by Andrew Mack
Ambassador Bird countered “Except to any of my constituents or Earth Delegates. And what were you thinking? Walking outside to a bar! What if someone had spotted you?”
Alexis smiled and continued, “I was getting a drink, it’s not breaking the law. And, if you let me continue..., I do trust the two cadets. Tunsall is very professional, very smart. Trujillo, despite being a bit arrogant, wouldn’t let anything happen to us.”
The Ambassador went back to reading but continued to speak. “Your enthusiasm is misguided. He wouldn’t let anything happen to you because he has a crush on you. I could get kidnapped by a platoon of SS soldiers, and I doubt he would notice.“
Alexis was now puzzled. “Crush? Trujillo? On me?”
The Ambassador never looked up. “Don’t act surprised. I see the way he looks at you. Following you outside to go bar hopping.”
Alexis spoke again “It was one drink Ambassador. And I was trying to figure out what Willits and Jones were doing.”
Ambassador Bird replied, “Well, soon it won’t matter. Once we get on that Battle Cruiser, we will be in joint BRG control, where I hate to admit it, will probably be more professional than these two.”
Commander Jones suddenly knocked on the door. “Ambassador?”
Ambassador Bird and Alexis wondered if Jones had heard what Bird had just said. Jones shouted, “Sir, we just got word there has been an attack on Braccus City.”
Ambassador Bird and Alexis looked at each other in disbelief. The two got up and went into the common area, where Willits and Jones had just finished playing cards with the two hookers. Willits spoke first. “Based on these initial reports, it looks like a bombing of a Quill Temple near the Port Braccus Terminal. There was an incident there as well, possibly related to the bombing. Publicly they are not confirming it, but the BRG is saying it was Taz.”
The Ambassador’s face turned to disbelief “Taz?”
Alexis was shocked. “There was a bombing of a Quill Temple?”
Jones continued, “Many dead, hundreds wounded. No count yet, but they said the Temple was packed. Apparently it’s a Quill holiday.”
Alexis answered, “It’s The Offering Sun.”
Trujillo asked, “It’s the what?”
Tunsall responded. “The offering of gifts to the Quillisars.”
Trujillo could not help himself, “The Quilla-what?”
Alexis continued, “Quillisars. The Red Priests of the Quill. Four times a year, offerings or gifts are made to the Quill Diamond’s four corners. Today is the Offering Sun.”
Ambassador Bird finally spoke, “If there was extensive damage to this Temple, I want to go see it personally.”
Willits interjected, “The scene is too hostile right now, Ambassador. The chance of another attack is still very probable.”
The Ambassador was dead set on it, though. “Command Willits. Did you not call for our Battle Cruiser to meet us at Braccus?”
Willits, still looking at the computer screen for more information. “That is correct, Ambassador. If they were still in the Corvalis system, they should already be on their way here.”
The Ambassador then stood right next to Willits. “Then it will leave me time to go down to Braccus City and witness this damage first hand.”
Willits countered. “Sir, the plan was to hide here, wait til the Battle Cruiser got into a safe orbit around Braccus, then meet on the ship when I felt everything was secure. Never to go down to the city. It’s chaos down there. The BRG would likely just put you in a security tent far away from the bombing.”
The Ambassador was not having it. “Commander, the purpose of my trip to Belinea is to talk to the Council about terrorism. I am demanding more security for the Ambassadors, the need for the DAG to have an expanded role in combating this aggression. My credibility is enhanced, not hindered if I go down there and report my findings to the Council. Not letting a Council Ambassador assess the damage would make the BRG and AuFa look like they are hiding their incapabilities.”
Willits continued to look at the Ambassador. He then looked at Jones, who gave him a slight shoulder shrug before turning back to the Ambassador’s stare. It was clear he was not going to budge.
The Ambassador offered one last argument. “I am not going to sit here in hiding while my mere presence can win our message at the bombing site. We are simply letting the BRG assist us in this detail, slightly earlier than planned.”
Willits finally acquiesced. Looking at the hookers, he said, “Ladies, it has been delightful, but I am afraid our time is up, and we must say goodbye. Tunsall, Trujillo, prepare the ship for takeoff. We are going to Port Braccus.”
Belinea 3.4
Braccus
The T-141 was in HyperEXtension before slowing down as it approached Braccus. Through the atmosphere, the pilots were hitting controls, pulling the throttle back, and communicating with the Port Braccus Control Tower. “BC54-1, we have you on our system. Proceed with caution to strip 8-1B.”
Commander Nickalis Devanoe was riding in a chair directly behind the two pilots. Out of the window, he could see the destruction from the incident on the Port. One bridge had an explosion hole in the middle while a crew was trying to patch it back together. One of the landing strips had been squared off, with almost a hundred AuFa soldiers investigating. In the distance, he could see the smoke from the Temple, which was still smoldering.
Commander Devanoe thought what one of the pilots said out loud. “What the hell happened?”
The T-141 gently touched the ground. It was a massive ship. It had two F-81 Sirator fighter’s, wings folded up, in its cargo bay. As the engines began to shut down, the back belly door opened up, and Commander Devanoe walked down it. One of the pilots was next to him. Nick looked at him and said, “Get the two fighters off this ship and prepped, immediately.”
The pilot nodded and walked off to find the necessary tow carts to get the Fighters off the ship. Commander Devanoe, once on the ground, turned around and began walking towards the docking bridges. This was the military section of the Port, surrounded with security. A soldier ran up to him and saluted.
“Commander Devanoe. Captain Kimmel informed us of your arrival time. The BRG would like a word with you.”
Commander Devanoe had to ask. “Soldier, what happened here?”
“Terrorist attack. Over a hundred dead at the Temple.”
Commander Devanoe kept looking around until the soldier escorted him to a ride transport. “Follow me, sir.”
With the roll bars’ assistance, they both got on the ride transport car, called a TC. The TC was a sort of flying jeep, with four horizontal fan blades for wheels that kept it afloat. The soldier whizzed by the security checkpoint, eventually climbing slightly in altitude. It gave Devanoe an incredible view of the bridge-tunnel with the explosion Taz left in it. The soldier continued to fly, over and around the Port Terminal building, and then toward the Temple’s site. In the process of the flight, the smoke seemed to be rising everywhere around the city, as if the whole city was somehow ablaze. He then saw a few rockets go off in the distance, a few mild explosions, and then heard the sound of a firework exploding. Nick Devanoe turned to the soldier and asked, “Is the city under attack?”
The soldier pointed to the Temple and spoke. “The Temple bombing was there, sir. In the hours after the attack, there have been riots, some protesting. Not all the people on Braccus are happy that the Belineans and the Quill are here.”
The soldier landed the craft a few blocks from the Temple, with medical crews still working on the wounded. A few press members had gotten by, managing to record the damage with reporters adding their commentary. The soldier, walking towards the security entrance, signaled for Commander Devanoe to follow him. “Right this way, Commander. Captain Vincella would like to see you.”
Near the Temple, billowing smoke continued to rise thr
ough the dusk of the sunset. Ambassador Bird was still looking around, Alexis right next to him. Cadets Tunsall and Trujillo, armed with rifle blasters, flanked the Ambassador and Alexis. Cheap parlor fireworks, firecrackers, smoke bombs, and broken bottles were thrown, highlighting the streets’ chaos a few blocks away. All four of them could hear this, occasionally grimacing when a firework went off. Tunsall and Trujillo kept looking around, trying to see if the minor rioting in the street led to something worse. Many medics were still assisting the wounded, with most of the critical wounded already transported out to local hospitals. There were some dead bodies with sheets over them, yet to be recovered. The Ambassador kneeled and saw the body of a dead boy and mother. They were entirely burned crispy black, still holding hands.
Alexis got up and walked away. She could not take any more of the devastation. She began walking away from the Temple. Instinctively, Trujillo followed her, leaving Tunsall to guard the Ambassador by himself. Alexis Devanoe walked toward the security tent area, noticing a small TC had just landed, and two men jumped out. They walked through the security entrance, both men showing off their credentials. As she got closer, one of the men looked oddly familiar. The man was then staring at her, with the same odd look on his face. It took almost three seconds for the two of them to recognize each other.
The soldier, who could not understand why Commander Devanoe was suddenly jogging toward this lady, shouted, “Commander Devanoe, Captain Vincella needs to see you.”
The two suddenly embraced in a long hug. Trujillo strolled behind, keeping his distance but never turning his eyes off Alexis. Trujillo kept a close grip on his rifle, not knowing who this guy was.
Alexis asked, still in an embrace, “What are you doing here?”
Nick let go, putting her small body back on the ground. “What are you doing here?”
Alexis was still in shock, “Ambassador Bird. We are on our way to Belinea, and stopped here to survey this attack.”
Nick then quickly put it all together. “And you were supposed to meet up with a Battle Cruiser in the Corvalis System, correct?”
Alexis then looked puzzled “How did you know?”
Nick answered, “Because that’s my Battle Cruiser. I am Captain Kimmel’s first officer.”
Trujillo decided to stay about twenty feet back, just staring at the two of them.
Nick asked, “What’s with the guy with the rifle?”
Alexis answered, “He is part of my security detail.”
Nick then asked, “He is DAG?”
Alexis interjected again. “I think. He is actually a cadet.”
Nick looked astonished and now was a little upset. “A cadet? Handling the Ambassador’s security? And why didn’t you go to the Corvalis system as planned? Who is in charge of your detail?”
Just then, the soldier who flew Commander Devanoe over had walked up. He reiterated, “Commander Devanoe, Captain Vincella needs to see you.”
The four walked over to the security tent, Trujillo, about ten feet behind now. When they walked inside the tent, they came upon a circle of six officers who were disagreeing with something. The older gentlemen, Captain Vincella of the BRG was making a point. “Commander, I understand your concern, but this is the safest option…”
Commander Willits interrupted with “Safe? That word is too big for you, Vincella. I am not sure you know what it means.”
Captain Vincella said, “Watch it, Commander.”
Willits immediately countered. “No, you fucking watch it. Your security team let this guy escape, and the city is in chaos. The AuFa has declared Martial Law, whatever good that is doing, and you want me to leave him in your protection?”
The soldier and Commander Devanoe then joined the circle. The soldier then spoke. “Captain Vincella, this is Commander Devanoe, from AuFa Battle Cruiser 54.”
Captain Vincella felt like he finally got a break. “Just in time. Commander Willits, if you do not feel the Military Side of the Port’s accommodations are adequate, this is the Commander assigned from the AuFa to handle the security for the rest of your trip. I assure you he has a T-141 that is perfectly fine to keep the Ambassador in while we wait on that Battle Cruiser to get here.”
Willits had had enough. “Vincella, he is an Ambassador, not the fucking ship cook. I am not storing him on some cot on a transport ship. I need him on his Ambassador ship, with an entire BRG security detail, inside a Cruiser or a major AuFa ship.”
Captain Vincella was now annoyed. “Willits, every one of my BRG officers is assisting with security and keeping the peace. Every available AuFA officer is out looking for Taz. I can barely give you two guards, let alone an entire detail. I keep hearing you guys want to handle security, well here it is. The base is under control, so your Ambassador can park his ass there.”
Willits was growing more agitated by the second. “ Vincella, people are rioting in the streets! You don’t think they can get past the security at the Port Terminal building and onto the base? If this were a Belinean Ambassador, you would have an entire AuFa battalion guarding him.”
Nick decided to interject. “Excuse me, I am not sure who you are?”
Willits was still fuming. “I am Commander Nolan Willits, Delegate Ambassador Guard, who the fuck are you?”
This took Nick back for a second. There was no civility in the room now. Alexis, noticing the same thing, tried to ease the tension. “Commander Willits, this is my brother, Nick Devanoe.”
Nick looked at her before looking back at Willits and offering his hand, “Commander Nick Devanoe.”
They shook hands, with Jones asking from behind Willits, even though he saw the uniform and already knew the answer. “You are AuFa?”
Nick nodded his head. “It’s not a costume. You two are in charge of the DAG detail team assigned to the Ambassador?”
Willits almost laughed “If ‘detail team’ you mean two pilots and us, then yes.”
Just then, Trujillo stuck out his hand from outside the circle into it, right in front of Nick. “I am Miguel Trujillo.”
Nick Devanoe did not shake it, still slightly confused as to who Trujillo was. Nick then turned to Willits and asked, “And who is guarding the Ambassador right now?”
Willits looked at Trujillo and barked, “You left the Ambassador?”
Trujillo, now withdrawing his unshaken hand, looked at Willits and said, “Tunsall is guarding him, I was following Miss Devanoe.”
Willits scolded him and said, “Get your ass back to the Ambassador. She is unimportant.”
Nick chirped out a “Hey?”
Willits apologized. “Sorry, no offense Miss Devanoe.”
Alexis gave a hand gesture to not worry about it. Nick then said, “No, your right, he should be guarding the Ambassador. She is not important.”
Alexis smacked her brother across the chest and said, “Hey…”
Captain Vincella was not interested in pleasantries. “Now that everyone knows each other, can we get to the task at hand. My orders are to get you SAFELY on Commander Devanoe’s Battle Cruiser and to Torsalli by all means possible.”
Nick Devanoe was still very much in the dark. “Captain Vincella, I apologize, but can somebody please tell me exactly what happened? I was on a T-141 to meet up with the Ambassador and flew into all of this.”
The BRG officer next to Captain Vincella began to explain while pointing at the map in front of them. “We looked at the security footage. Taz was disguised as a Quillsar Priest and laid, we think, three explosives inside this Temple. The Temple was packed because of the holiday. The devices went off as Taz was escaping through the Port Braccus terminal. A BRG officer identified him, leading him on a chase across one of the tunnel bridges and eventually out to one of the landing strips. Taz was assisted by a crew, and he escaped. As of now, we have 96 people confirmed dead, at least 200 wounded at the Temple. Plus anot
her thirteen dead BRG officers who Taz killed in his escape.”
Nick tried to process all that information. He then responded, “Any relation to the attack on Space Port Earth? Obviously Taz must have come directly from Earth to here.”
Willits and Jones now perked up as did Alexis. Jones, confused, asked, “What attack on Earth?”
Nick Devanoe, now realizing everyone did not know of the Space Port Earth attack, seemed almost reluctant to say anything. He looked at Captain Vincella for clarity before turning to Willits and Jones and saying, “You don’t know about the attack?”
Alexis then asked as well. “What attack?”
Captain Vincella explained. “Taz struck Space Port Earth approximately two days ago. It was a solo attack, designed to hit one of the docking ports with a small ship. He shot down two fighters as he escaped.”
There was a hush among the group. Alexis, Willits, and Jones all looked at each other. Willits, after the initial shock wore off, grew frustrated. He looked directly at Captain Vincella and said, “Which slip? Why didn’t you tell us?”
Captain Vincella sounded sincere, “I thought you knew. It is also why the BRG wants to inquire about why your ship left three hours before its scheduled departure. ”
Willits was still pissed. “Well, good call by us. You are fucking welcome.”
Then Nick chimed in. “And why did you not follow your manifest and go directly to the Corvalis System as planned.”
Commander Willits was almost glad to answer. “Well, excuse me for not trusting any of you. You guys are fucking incredible. It’s like asking me why I put a parachute on the Ambassador when I pushed him outside the door of the aircraft.”
Nick then responded, which drew the ire of Captain Vincella, “Except that bringing him here was not exactly a better choice than keeping with the plan and taking him to Corvalis.”
Willits quickly added, “I did not have the Ambassador here.”
Vincella now asked, “Yeah, where did you have the Ambassador hidden?”
Willits and Jones just looked at each other, knowing they were not going to say anything. Unfortunately, Ambassador Bird just walked into the tent, with Tunsall and Trujillo in tow. Now was the awkward look of what should we say. After a few seconds of silence, Alexis let the cat out of the bag. “We were hiding on Vandabri.”