“That will do,” General Loran said. “Dr. Eisen, are you saying that both Colonel Powers and Commander McMasters are lying to us? That they're traitors?”
Dr. Eisen shivered. He opened his mouth but nothing came out.
Major Day eyed him. “I don't believe Dr. Eisen is saying that, General Loran. It's simply that this is all much beyond anything we've learned or expected from the enemy, that we need time to study and assess it. Perhaps we should appoint a task force.”
“We don't have time for that, Major,” Loran said. “You've seen the data, reviewed the maps. The enemy have gathered and are approaching us on a direct vector. They could reach us in a week.” Loran swiveled around in his chair to gaze out the window at his fleet. “We have to decide now,” he said.
A squat female officer advanced a few steps. “General Loran. You know yourself, ser, how there are too many incidents of disobedience in the ranks these days?”
Loran spun quickly around, and the officer fell silent. “I'll tell you what there's too much of in the ranks these days. Too many mealy-mouthed, weasel words, too many indirect and roundabout ways of calling someone a traitor.” He rose to his feet, and suddenly Stella was staring at the hero of Kakkistan, the awesome living legend she had heard about all her life. “Damn it,” Loran said, “if you think they've fed us a dung heap of lies, then say it!”
The offender was silent. Loran swept the room with his eyes. “I think they've both told the truth,” he said.
Stella almost collapsed in gratitude. Glancing at Powers, she saw vast relief.
“General,” Major Day said, “there's something else we should consider.” Stella saw the woman's eyes slide to her. “Perhaps it means nothing, but Commander McMasters is cyber-enhanced. We don't know—”
“Major,” Loran said, “I think it does mean nothing. If Commander McMasters has done what she said, we should all be very grateful that she is cyber-enhanced.” He turned and smiled at Stella.
Stella smiled back, remembering that Gage had said Loran was a combination of greatness and pettiness and she didn't know which predominated. At the moment, Stella could see only greatness.
But what would Loran say when she asked him to leave the fighting to her?
“Commander,” General Loran said, “what would you recommend?”
She considered rising, then rejected it. She didn't want to upstage the general or make anyone think she had that intention. Better to appear as humble as possible when she dropped her bombshell.
“General,” she said, “this may sound incredible....”
Loran managed a weak laugh. “Commander, after what you've said, I doubt it.”
“What is it?” Major Day said. She glanced at Loran. “Perhaps you want General Loran to turn the command and leadership of this operation over to you?”
The atmosphere in the room turned poisonous. What Day had suggested amounted to sacrilege, the defilement of an idol.
“General Loran,” Powers said, “Commander McMasters doesn't want that at all, nor do I. Even to imply such a thing would be a gross and treasonous presumption. You, ser, are our leader, and there is no other.”
“Then what are you suggesting, Commander?” Loran said.
Stella gazed into his intense blue eyes. “General, I suggest that you withdraw your forces five light-days and let me try first.”
“'Try first'?”
“Yes, face the enemy alone.”
Eisen couldn't contain himself. “Preposterous! You're going to face five thousand Slug ships and this All-Mother with just your crew?”
Stella turned on him. “I thought you felt it was all lies. If there are no Slugs and there is no All-Mother, what difference does it make? Ser, you can't have it both ways.”
Loran gazed at her. “Commander, how do you possibly expect to win? You've only one ship.”
“I'm not sure,” she admitted. “It's just a feeling. I don't even know what I'll do exactly, but I feel this may give us our only chance to win.”
“This being you call the All-Mother,” Loran said, “she'll just hold all her Slugs and Scaleys at bay and let you come peacefully to her because she wants something from you?”
Stella held his eyes. “Yes, and I believe that somehow I'll know what to do.”
Loran raised his hand, touching the rows of medals on his chest. “Commander, do you know that I have fifty-six years of military experience, in all situations? That I started as a sixteen-year-old apprentice cook?”
“Yes, ser,” she said, not adding that she had started in the same position at seventeen.
“Ever since this foe appeared, I have fought them,” Loran continued. He put his arms behind him and seemed to gaze off into the distance. “Even before we were invaded, I defended everything the Empire stands for. Kakkistan, Beiruta, Tanzangla, Molerta ... I've never voluntarily run or avoided a conflict. In just the past five years, I've spent a lifetime studying and hating the enemy, leading armies and fighting battles.”
He lowered his eyes to hers. “Now you ask me to run, tuck my tail between my legs and leave the battle to you alone.”
She said gently, “In myself I am nothing. It was only an accident that I happened to be in the right place at the right time with a ship of brave comrades willing to fight and die for us all. If there were any justice at all, ser, it would have been you who were there.”
Loran nodded at the xenologist. “We already have a plan. Dr. Eisen's studied the enemy a long time, built on what we know, and with his assistance we've devised a daring strategy. It's a multi-staged, ingeniously constructed offensive that's absolutely brilliant.”
“General,” Stella said, “based on all your years of experience, do you really feel it will work? Do you think it can possibly prevail against our adversary?” She saw Loran's eyes drop and pressed her advantage. “Besides, what will be lost? If I fail, you simply engage the enemy five light-days away. Your plan should work just as well there.”
Loran stood so still he resembled a statue. Stella could feel him weighing what she'd said and imagined looking at the situation through his eyes. What way would he go? What choice would she make if she were in his place? Surely, she'd never let her ego get in the way of what was best for the Empire.
Or would she? She'd already let emotion rule her head twice. Hadn't she let a personal involvement with Jason cloud her judgment when she'd banished him to the pirate ship? Hadn't her ego been involved both there and in her similar treatment of George?
“General,” Major Day said, “there's no hard evidence that she's done anything she's claimed. We haven't seen any captured ship or even one tissue sample from the enemy. Yet we're expected to accept on faith that there is, or was such a ship, and that its occupants were all destroyed in a single clash, and accept as well everything else that she's told us.”
Loran seemed introspective. “Sometimes all you have is faith, and it's the only thing that keeps you alive and going. If it weren't for faith, I'd be long dead by now.” Stella saw him turn to her and smile. “It's all she has,” he said. “All she has is her faith that when she meets this All-Mother, she will know what to do.”
She smiled back at him. “Perhaps a little hope too.”
“Oh yes,” he nodded. “Always a little hope.” He moved around the desk and came up to her. Stella rose to face him, as did Powers. She could hear everyone in the room snap to attention.
General Loran, the Supreme Commander of Imperial Forces, reached out and shook her hand. “Commander,” he said, “we will do as you suggest. I'll order my ships to withdraw five light-days from here and let you be our front line.”
Stella trembled, not believing her ears. Powers grasped Loran's hand. “Thank you, General.”
“Pierce, it's my pleasure. Who knows? Perhaps history will remember me for pulling off the most strategic stroke of the war.” Loran managed a small smile. “Or that I was bright enough not to say no to Stella McMasters.”
Suddenly Stella found p
eople clustering about her as if to lap up Loran's blessing. Even Dr. Eisen forged a smile. Stella felt someone squeeze her hand.
“General Loran!”
The voice cut the air like a laser. Everyone silenced, and she saw Loran turn to Major Day, who stood behind the desk studying the comconsole.
“What is it, Major?” Loran said.
“Ser, a message just arrived. It's from a ship that came through Scylla a few days ago.”
“So? It's no doubt joining our fleet.”
“Ser, it's come from Loran Base.”
“Loran Base?” He turned, looked at Stella. “Thank God-that means someone else survived!”
“General,” Day said, drawing her pistol and pointing it at Stella, “the ship is commanded by a Captain Starkey and her account does not coincide with theirs.” She paused as the guards swiftly drew their weapons. “Starkey says that McMasters and Powers severely damaged the base and threatened the Emperor's life, not the enemy. According to her, they are both traitors.”
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* * *
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
General Loran's eyes bore into her. “Is this true, Commander? Did you damage my base?”
Stella exchanged a glance with Powers. What could she say? All her eloquence had vanished even though she had known this might happen.
“I had to do it to escape the base and reach you with what I knew,” she said. “No one would believe me there.”
Major Day was reading the comconsole. “Captain Starkey reports McMasters kidnapped Regent-Protector Malek and killed nearly two hundred comrades,” she said.
Loran's face was empty. “You lied to me.”
“I was forced to,” Stella said. “Would you have believed me if I had told the truth? If I had come here and told you I crippled your base because I had to, would you have listened? They certainly didn't listen at the base.”
Loran's face twisted. “You attacked my base!” He thrust his arm out. “Put her in the brig. We'll await the arrival of Captain Starkey to dispose of her.” He glanced at an officer. “Major Rockford, see that the Spaceranger is seized and swept clean. Search for Regent-Protector Malek and arrest everyone on board.”
A stocky officer with black hair saluted. “Yes, General.”
“General Loran.” Stella tried to move forward but the two guards intercepted her. “Please, I told you the truth when I said I was the only one who could help. I—”
“Ha!” he mocked. “'The only one who could help'!”
“Yes,” Stella said. “Please let me face the All-Mother alone. If you attempt to fight her, you'll all die. Deep down, I think you know it.”
“Don't tell me what I think!” Loran moved toward her, spittle flecking his lips. “You damaged my base, and I was going to let you...” He glanced about at the others, and Stella saw humiliation and shame on his face. None of the greatness and magnanimity she had seen before remained.
“General,” Powers said, “Commander McMasters is telling the truth. Please listen to her. In five years we have never once won a contest with the enemy. It was only when she—”
“That will be enough! Lies lies lies, that's all you two miserable traitors can do!” Loran ran a shaking hand through his silver hair. “Colonel Powers, your name will live in infamy and you will be remembered only as a soldier who disgraced his uniform.” He stepped close and slapped him.
Powers’ face rocked with the blow. Stella saw him swallow.
Loran swung to her. She watched his eyes rise from her feet to her face. His face twisted again, no longer handsome.
“You freak. You lab vat monstrosity! You dared to hurt my base?” He made a rude gesture of dismissal. “Get them out of my sight at once!”
* * * *
They took her to a cell on a different level. Locked inside, she paced the floor as they proceeded on with Powers to another cell. She hoped he might look back at her once before he passed from sight, but he didn't.
She sat down on a thin bed attached to the wall, wishing they hadn't taken her cronex. It would have helped some, enabled her to mark the hours and minutes. As it was, she could only sit and watch the wall.
Traitor.
She closed her eyes. She had been so close.
* * * *
Hours later, they came for her and marched her and Powers to a lift tube. This time their destination was the General's legendary war room, the site of his historical decisions. As she entered, she saw at least thirty officers present, including Major Starkey, who looked just as unpleasant as she remembered.
At the front of the room stood a large vidscreen that showed Pancho Villa standing with his arm around Regent-Protector Malek. Pancho wore colorful clothes, crisscrossing bandoleers loaded with what looked like outmoded ammunition, and a huge sombrero. Malek, in turn, was dressed in a plain white robe that was none too clean, and his earlier defiance was gone. His once neat goatee was shaggy and ill-tended.
“Ah, Stella, you are here, si? I waited just as you wanted, but you did not report.”
General Loran glared at her. “What is the meaning of this?” he said.
“General Loran,” Pancho said. “Please be so good as to speak to me. I am el hombre who's in charge.” He laughed coarsely, obviously delighted with his role, and made a sweeping gesture toward Loran. “I have long admired you, General Loran. You are un muy grande hombre, un muy magnifico general.” He thumped his chest. “I, too, am a leader of men, senor.”
Loran's lips were a bloodless white. “You are pirate scum,” he said. “A parasite who sucks our Emperor's blood.”
Pancho's smile died. “You would be wise to watch what you say about the Emperor and myself.” He lifted a pistol and pressed it to Malek's head. “Very careful, General Loran, or my trigger finger might slip.”
As the room's occupants gasped, Stella realized that Pancho had dropped his bad Spanish. She hoped it was for good, because it might make Loran take him more seriously.
Loran nodded to Major Day, who moved toward Pancho's image.
“Caramba!” Pancho grinned at her and smacked his lips.
“Captain Villa,” Day said politely, “what is it that you're asking?”
Pancho smacked his lips again and eyed Day's body. Stella tensed.
Fortunately, Pancho pulled himself together. “Here are my terms. You will return Commander McMasters and Colonel Powers to the Spaceranger and let it and its crew go free. At the same time, I will approach and release the Regent-Protector into your custody.” He smiled at Malek and patted his cheek. “Perhaps, my grande hombre, you can find a little boy there to enslave by drugs just as you did the Emperor.”
Captain Starkey stomped forward. “This is a foul lie. The Regent-Protector's done no such thing.” She braced her hands on her ample hips. “Listen, Villa, you've forgotten something. You're within an hour of us. We could chase you down and capture you.”
Pancho looked horrified. “Ah, who asked this big fat pig to insult me? Come give our blessed Emperor a drug scan, then say Pancho lies.” He flapped his hand. “Go, sow. Snort up another sty.”
As Starkey retreated with a red face, Pancho grinned at Loran. “Here's my answer. You come within fifty thousand kilometers of me and I kill the Regent-Protector. Just one click! and he will be muy dead.”
Tense silence. When she'd made this emergency plan, Stella had assumed Loran would be willing to make the trade because Malek was virtually the Emperor. But with every passing second, she grew less certain. Malek's exalted status was clouded by the desperate situation. Also, judging by Loran's anger, he would be reluctant to free any “traitors.”
“Here are my terms,” Loran finally said. He stalked forward, eyes hard. “We give you back these two traitors and you surrender Malek to us at the same time. But the Spaceranger and its crew stay here, under arrest.” He gave Malek a pale smile. “I'm sorry, Regent-Protector. I can't release a rogue ship even for you.”
Malek's cheek twitched
, but he said nothing.
“General Loran,” Stella said, “there's one correction. The people I brought with me on the Spaceranger will leave with us.”
Loran's eyes flashed. “That is not satisfactory.”
Stella met his steel-blue gaze. “It will have to be,” she said.
Loran inhaled deeply, then turned to Pancho. “Very well. We give you back all these traitors in exchange for Malek alone. But their weapons and the Spaceranger remain here.”
Stella waited. When she had discussed this plan with Pancho, she had told him, as a negotiating strategy, to demand the release of the Spaceranger and its crew even though she had doubted Loran would agree. The question now was what would she do on a pirate ship. More than once, she had wondered if she was crazy even to think of trusting an outlaw like Pancho.
Pancho grinned and waved a hand expansively. “General, it's a deal. And here's how we're going to work it.”
* * * *
When La Libertad extended its beat-up boarding tube, the vigilant guard ship cautiously approached. It housed Stella, Powers, and the Spaceranger's motley crew of soldiers and pirates. About them, there was no other craft for a million kilometers in any direction. The two ships seemed alone, specks in the infinitude of space.
Pancho's boarding tube drew within an arm's length of the vigilant, whose docking area was too small to admit it. Wearing armor to facilitate their transfer, Stella and the others were all assisted into the tube by two armed guards. The guards appeared reluctant to touch them, as if they feared the taint of treason might seep through even duroplast shielding.
As they moved through the rickety tube, Regent-Protector Malek approached with two guards of his own. The four guards all halted halfway to arrange the transfer.
Stella's crew shifted their feet. The pirates, especially, glanced nervously at Malek as if they feared he would reacquire his lost power. No one, Stella reasoned, would fire lest Malek be hurt. As soon as the procedure was completed, both vessels would streak off in opposite directions.
Beyond Those Distant Stars Page 28