"Holy—Red, come here! Quick!"
"What?"
"Good Gaia, I don't believe this! Do you know what this is?"
Coming across the room to look over Physic's shoulder, Coeur had to admit she didn't. To her eyes it looked like a scrolling screen full of three-dimensional organic molecules and chemical equations.
"What?"
"It's Hiver Folgorex II," Physic said. "I mean, the instructions for making Hiver Folgorex II!"
Suddenly, Coeur felt the hair rise on her arms and the back of her neck.
"I don't know if I like this," she said, drawing her pistol again. "Getting in was too easy."
"Yeah, that is odd," Physic said, though she was too absorbed by the data on the screen to be as scared as she knew she should be. "Got it. That's the whole RNA transcription program, stored right in my computer."
"Will it let you design a vaccine?"
"Wouldn't care to guess," Physic said, rapidly returning to the computer's file manager. "It's a great start, though; just let me check and see if there's anything else in here—"
Suddenly, the screen cracked and Physic leapt back in her chair.
"What the—I"
But Coeur began to turn too late, and found a pistol in her ribs.
"If it's all the same, Yvette Francois, I'd rather not shoot you. Let's drop the gun, shall we?"
"Zorn," Physic said, spinning around in her chair.
Coeur dropped her gun, noting the ceiling drop panel the pirate must have been hiding behind.
"Mrs. Delpero," Zorn said, with a little bow. "I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to remove your gun, too, and drop it on the floor."
The doctor did as ordered, dropping the weapon on the floor.
"Thank you," Zorn said, keeping the women covered as she stooped to pick up their weapons. Coeur, seeing her incredible flexibility and speed, resisted the temptation to jump her—and court a belly full of gauss slugs.
"Believe it or not," Zorn said, holstering her gun and popping the clips from the Arses' weapons, "this isn't a trap. I just don't like having loaded guns pointed at me."
Stunned, the standing Coeur and sitting Physic then received back their weapons.
"What,..?" Physic said.
"Doctor Takegawa, Captain Francois—or whatever your real name is—you're going to have to get off this planet as quickly as possible. Whether you believe me or not, I used to be on the same side as you guys, and I wouldn't want you to get caught on the ground when this place goes up."
"Goes up?" Coeur asked.
"Oh, it's going to go up, all right," Zorn said. "Four 500-kiloton bombs should just about wipe this godless cesspit of a starport right off the face of creation."
in the 58 days between Ra and Sauler, Coeur had a lot of time to read over, and ponder, the most peculiar entry in Hornets computer library data.
ZORN, Vega Gwyn; Auroran Dawn League scout; b. 10/ II/1167. Only survivor of DLS Taylor the Bruce, 25/lV/ 1200, honorably discharged 28/V/1200. Twice decorated with Auroran citations for bravery; present whereabouts unknown.
Amend that, Coeur thought. Present whereabouts two meters in front of me. "Good Lord, Zorn, are you crazy?" "I'm surprised, captain. I would have thought you'd grasp how much of a threat the Guild is to the Coalition."
"I don't care how much I grasp, Zorn. You just can't fire off nuclear bombs inside a planetary atmosphere! It's evil, like what you did—" "Yes?"
"Like what you did to Ra."
"A necessary evil' the pirate returned. "I couldn't have the Guild agents there squeal and give up the game."
"Game?" Physic said, incredulous. "Zorn, you were a DLS officer! What in Gaia's name happened to you?"
Zorn made an amused little snort and invited Coeur to sit down. After Coeur accepted the offer, Zorn sat down herself.
"I assume you reviewed my record, if you knew I was in the League."
'The record's short," Coeur said. "It just says you were the sole survivor of a League ship, and you mustered out with decorations."
"It doesn't say what killed Taylor the Bruce?"
"No."
"Taylor the Bruce was killed by Hivers, captain."
"You're kidding."
"I wish I were. Our skipper wasn't very creative, but he was very logical—an ideal target for manipulation. M. Gerald steered us into contact with a vampire fleet—just to see how it would react—then jumped ship just before we were attacked. It—the Hiver—and I were the only ones who survived."
"I never heard of that incident," Physic said.
"Me neither," Coeur said, "although it's not inconceivable. Contact protocol was very loose in the League, and I'm sure they wouldn't want to advertise an incident like that."
"So that was the trigger," Physic said, "just that, and you decided to kill the Hiver race,"
Zorn rolled her eyes.
"I'm not a psychopath, doctor, regardless of what you may think. It is simply my considered opinion that the Hivers are steering humankind toward oblivion. The Dawn League was their first try at killing us—manipulating our worlds into sending unarmed freighters into the Wilds, so they'd bring back Virus and destroy our planets. And it might have worked, too, except that the '98 expedition was cleaned out, and the League had the sense to reorganize."
Coeur shook her head.
"You disagree, captain?"
"Zorn, the Hivers taught our worlds how to use technology. If they wanted us dead, why raise us up first?"
"I'm not sure about that," Zorn said, "but it doesn't matter, now. The virus will work its way back to the Federation and kill every Hiver."
"They'll make a vaccine," Physic said, "sooner or later."
"I tend to think not," Zorn answered. "You were probably the best chance of that."
"So you're going to kill me?"
"No. I'll just keep your medical computer there."
"Zorn," Coeur said, "I still don't get you. On the one hand you say you support the Coalition, but even you must know it can't survive on its own yet. Regardless of their motivation, we need the Hivers to keep the Coalition afloat."
"But I disagree. In my judgment, the Guild is the greatest immediate threat to the Coalition. If I can eliminate this port—the administrative hub of all the Guild operations in this sector—it will buy the Coalition time to recover from the extermination of the Hivers."
"You're insane," Physic said.
"All the same," Zorn said, "it'll have to be this way. Just as soon as my boys signal me, I'll escort you to the surface and let you go back to your ship. Then you'll have to get off this rock as quickly as possible."
"Your boys?" Coeur asked.
"I've got my crew out on patrol, just in case you left anyone up on the surface."
"I sort of figured that. You're good, but I didn't think you could take an entire station by yourself."
Zorn laughed, standing.
"Oh, I didn't take this station, captain. I simply bribed the mercenary staff into letting us take their watch, so anything you did to the station wouldn't attract the attention of those clowns from their air force,"
Coeur sighed. "So why did you lead us down here?"
"Really?"
"Really."
"It was the only way I could be sure—really sure—that you were from the Coalition. Seeing the doctor in your crew was a big clue, but this was definitive."
"I see."
"And—"
Zorn paused.
"And?"
"It's been a long time since I was home, captain, and I'll probably never get back there again."
"I think I see," Coeur said. "You wanted someone to know you were still out here, and that you hadn't gone completely off the deep end."
"Something like that."
"Zorn," Coeur said, "there's no reason why we can't work together here. Surely, you can't want to kill every innocent civilian in the city,"
"I appreciate your offer, captain. But time is short, and I do not have time to separate the
wheat from the chaff."
Just then, without warning, two iris valves opened simultaneously—the one leading down from the surface and the one directly opposite. Surprising Zorn, the two figures standing in the open portal trained their gauss rifles as the pirate went for her handgun and caught her in a bludgeoning crossfire. She dropped, twitching, to the deck beside Coeur and Physic—already taking cover on the floor.
"You all right, skipper?" Drop Kick asked, entering the room from one side while Bonzo entered from the other, "Roger," Coeur said, rising up to her knees. Physic, meanwhile, had unhooked her diagnostic computer from the disabled station console it was jacked into and crawled over to Zorn, who was prone and immobile on the floor.
"is she dead?"
"No," the doctor said, running her pocket scanner across the body, "sleeping. Most of the rounds bounced off her suit, but it looks like one caught her in the back of the neck."
"You specified tranq rounds," Drop Kick said to Coeur, lifting his helmet visor. "Not that they were the best choice against the thugs we ran into upstairs. One of 'em had a rocket launcher and almost blew Bonzo's fool head off."
"We got four of them, though," Bonzo said. "Left 'em all tied up upstairs in the warehouse."
"She going to make it?" Coeur asked.
"She'll be awake in a half hour or less."
Coeur nodded.
"Good, Physic, go back topside with Bonzo and look after Zorn's people."
"Roger."
Coeur waited until they had left before turning to Drop Kick.
"Sergeant major, we've got to talk,"
Thirty minutes later, Physic stood in the doorway of the hilltop warehouse, looking at her watch. Though the warehouse was full of surly prisoners, Raglan's Raiders had yet to strafe the hill—a sign that Zorn indeed had controlled communications there that evening.
Still she was uneasy. Like the people behind her, Zorn had had plenty of time to recover from the tranq.
She must be awoke by now, so what ore they talking about down there?
Shuffling inside the warehouse brought Physic's attention back to the building.
Through her low-light goggles, she registered the image of Coeur rising through the trap door, followed by Zorn and Drop Kick. The six prisoners, sitting on the floor with their hands bound behind their back, saw very little, though their heads perked up when they heard Coeur's comment to Bonzo.
"Trooper, release these crewmen."
"Sir?"
"It's all right, we have an understanding. Just don't give them back their weapons until I say."
Bonzo looked at Drop Kick, who nodded, "Sir."
Coeur then walked over to Physic, and steered her outside through the door. Only after they were well away from the building, and near the perimeter fence, did Coeur explain the situation.
"Physic, we've come to an arrangement, You're going to leave Sauler tonight."
"You mean we're going to leave Sauler, right?"
"Negative. You are going to get that virus data off the planet immediately. Drop Kick and I will stay behind."
"Good Cod," Physic exclaimed, probably loud enough to be heard inside, "are you insane?"
"Possibly, but that's neither here nor there. As soon as you get back to Hornet, inform Gyro that you're assuming command under my authority. Tell her I said it's Exercise 61C, part 2; she'll know what I mean. You will then instruct Whiz Sang and Crowbar to remove the main gun and ammunition from the tank and move it and the launch out into the berth."
"But—"
"Shh, listen—you've got to get this right the first time. After the vehicles are off the ship, inform the Port Authority that you're blasting out to check on a lanthanum strike at La Shend VII—but that you're leaving the vehicles behind to sell later. Hopefully, the greedy bums'll be so eager to get their hands on the luxury launch that they'll let you go without any fuss,"
"But captain—why? Why are you staying here?"
Despite the dark night, Physic clearly registered Coeur's grim expression.
"Two reasons: 1) this is the only sure chance I have to get you and the data off the planet—while this station's radio is off the air and Zorn is on our side, and 2) I can't let Zorn blow up this entire city—no matter how vile it is. She's agreed to a limited strike at the Port Authority building alone."
"Sounds like splitting hairs. What's the difference between nuking the whole city and nuking a building?"
"We're not going to nuke anything, doctor. What we've agreed is to fix up the sled with new contra-grav modules and stuff it full of demo charges so we can use it as a guided missile. That should level the building without killing 20,000 innocent people and irradiating the entire isthmus."
Physic turned away a second to look south to the starport. Its ghostly glow beyond the hills was a blazing radiance in amplified light.
"All right, but why remove the gun? Are you going to need it for some other job?"
"Negative. You will remove the gun and secure it aboard the ship because it isn't necessary for the mission. Almost a fifth of the sled's cost in that gun, and headquarters wouldn't be too happy if we blew it up without a good reason."
Physic nodded, conceding the point.
"Fair enough. But really, Red, do you think the automation in that tank is good enough to let it fly this mission alone?"
"It damn well better be," Coeur said, "because if it isn't, I'll have to fly it in myself and bail at the last minute."
"Hm. So what about this place?"
"Too dangerous to blow," Coeur said. "A SAC team can get it later. Anyway, there's no time to talk about it."
"Understood, sir."
"Just one question: Do you think you can make a vaccine with that data?"
"Like I said, I can't be certain. I'll give you 60-40 odds, though, I'll come up with something."
"Good. I'm banking on Zorn thinking that your data's useless."
"Maybe I'm missing something, captain. Aren't we the ones with the guns?"
"You are missing something. Zorn's got a 400-ton gunship and six troops with their own battle dress waiting to rescue her if she doesn't report,"
"Ah."
"Just as soon as you and Bonzo are away, we'll give 'em back their guns. Now get the broomstick ready while I go get Bonzo,"
Whatever action had occurred on the surface, the broomstick was undamaged, and Physic lifted it into the air with ease. She then flew the broomstick over to the side door of the warehouse—now lit with normal light— and looked upon a scene most peculiar.
Lifting her goggles, Physic saw that the pirates were still unarmed, they and Zorn were circled amiably around Drop Kick and Bonzo, discussing the defenses of the Port Authority like old friends. Coeur, upon reaching this group, slapped Bonzo on his left shoulder guard and he nodded. Peeling apart from the others, he tossed Coeur his gauss rifle—keeping only a pistol for himself—and jogged over to the broomstick, "Have a safe trip, doctor," Zorn called over to Physic, as Bonzo buckled himself into the rear seat, "We'll give you a good eight hours before we shoot off the firecracker."
Physic nodded, and saluted Coeur.
"Carry on, doctor," Coeur said, saluting back.
Physic held the salute a full second longer, then lowered her goggles and pulled back on the control stick, hurtling the broomstick into the dark and starry night above.
Good luck, you crazy bastards.
At 2640 hours, just before local midnight, Physic and Bonzo raced their broomstick into the cargo bay of RCS Hornet, trusting that Deep Six and Scissor would still be floating in their tank and not wandering about the hold. It was a safe assumption, and Physic found the space necessary for a pinpoint landing.
"Hey guys," Physic said, pausing by the tank with Bonzo. "You all right?"
Deep Six replied with a bobbing nod. Scissor, however, didn't move.
"I believe that Scissor is asleep," the Schalli said "Hey, Scissor," Physic said, reaching into the water to shake one of the Hiver's arms,
"you all right?"
Lethargically, Scissor lifted its prime limb.
Excuse me, it signed, with the fingers of that limb. I am awake.
"Good. Because it's time to get out of the tank. Both of you get to your regular stations immediately."
Understood, Scissor signed.
"Are we launching?" Deep Six asked, helping his non- aquatic mate to the edge of the tank.
"ASAP," Physic said.
Knowing she had to reach the bridge, Physic nevertheless felt herself rooted to the spot by professional responsibility, Scissor was getting out of the tank, but he wasn't doing it in a hurry.
"Bonzo," she said, pulling the Marine close, "can you watch Scissor? See that he gets to his quarters?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good man. Report to me on the bridge when he's secured,"
"Roger," Bonzo said, moving to help the sluggish Hiver out of the sloshing water of the tank.
First things first, Physic thought. I've got to get to the bridge.
At a flat-out run, Physic reached the port forward compartment in seconds, surprising Gyro and Crowbar, who were standing the night watch.
"Where's the skipper?" Gyro asked.
"She's not coming," Physic said. "Red Sun said this was Exercise 61C, part 2, whatever that means. I am assuming command of this mission, effective immediately."
Gyro was momentarily bemused, but didn't protest. Physic's grim stare told her a legitimate emergency was in progress.
"Is she dead?"
"Unknown," Physic said. "Crowbar, access the digital voice file and prepare the radio to modulate my voice to match Red Sun's."
"Roger," the engineer said, turning to the task, "Better take the big chair," Gyro offered, abandoning the pilot's station.
"Thanks," Physic said, sliding in to take her place. "Gyro, you get Snapper and the Marines to help you roll out the launch and the sled, double-quick. Oh, and help Whiz Bang remove the main gun—we'll need it secured inside an hour," "Remove the gun—?"
"Now. We don't have time."
"Sir," Gyro said, saluting and curbing further comment.
"Voice modulation set," Crowbar said, as Gyro left.
"Excellent, Hail starport control and patch it through the modulator."
Crowbar manipulated Deep Six's panels expertly, and the contact worked perfectly. In her headphones. Physic heard Coeur's voice sounding in her own ears.
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