by Andrew Mack
The officer looked confused “Vi Kapoor?”
Willits smiled and said “Trust me.”
Willits sprinted to catch up to Jones and the girl. Willits came up from behind and Jones said, “Everything good?”
Willits said “Yep…”
The girl spoke very quietly. “So, what now?”
Jones said “We are going to work. You are gonna have the easiest assignment of your life.”
The girl said “What’s that?”
Willits replied “To sit around all day at one of the finest hotels in Capitol City. Go layout by the pool, have a refreshment, go to the spa, get a meal, all while still getting paid just to be quiet.”
The girl replied “You guys can hire me anytime.”
Belinea 8.4
Avola
Lowell Province, Mining Center Six
Three miners were putting out the flames around the crashed transport. Two others were prying open the cargo bay door with rudely elementary equipment. When they finally got it up, they ran inside and began taking the bodies out. They handed Kaya’s body to two other miners, before coming out with Octavious’ body, followed by Cortes, who surprisingly seemed slightly coherent. One of the miners said “That’s all of them.”
They loaded all three bodies onto gurneys and then directed them onto a transport. Cortes shook her head ever so slightly. The Doctor that had previously worked on Kaya was on this medical transport and began scanning Octavious. She immediately said “He is gone, there is nothing I can do.”
She then went over to Kaya, still in her red priest clothes. The Doctor scanned her everywhere. She whispered to herself “I put you back together only so you could tear yourself up again.”
She scanned her for a few seconds and said to the pilot “If we do not get her back to Bisi now, I am going to lose her.”
The pilot nodded and said “Let’s go.”
The transport took off. The Mining Center was in complete chaos. Most of it was on fire, billowing smoke. Almost a thousand miners had been killed, the rest had gone into hiding in the caves or dispersed back into the city. The AuFa had left after the initial attack, but would be back soon to retake the base after the fires calmed down.
As they flew off towards Bisi, the Doctor asked “How long til Bisi?”
The Pilot yelled back “Thirty minutes!”
The Doctor began patching up Kaya’s shoulder, first by removing the round that was in it. She whispered again to herself “Come on, Kaya, hang in there.”
Belinea 8.5
Belinea , Capital City
AuFa Base One
The AuFa Frigate landed on pad Eleven. An entire AuFa platoon came out on the base, six guards on each side. They were holding their rifles, not pointing and aiming, but at a loose position. Nick Devanoe walked down the ramp off the ship and was immediately greeted by an AuFa officer. The Lieutenant saluted at Nick and said, “Commander Devanoe, I am Lieutenant Nichols. Admiral Flynn would like to see you at once.”
Nick then spoke. “Yes Lieutenant. This is your platoon?”
Lieutenant Nichols confirmed “Yes, Commander.”
Nick continued “Post them here Lieutenant. Do not let anyone on or off of this ship, including BRG. Do you understand?”
Lieutenant Nichols nodded his head and said “Yes, sir.”
Nick then asked “Which one of your men can direct me to Admiral Flynn’s office?”
Onboard the frigate, Tunsall and Trujillo got into full-body gear. Alexis was in a standard business suit with her tablet in a small carrying case. She spoke to the cadets “Listen, we stay together until we find a DAG unit. Not BRG. Understand?”
The cadets both nodded. Trujillo, readjusting his armor, said, “Although, technically, we only take orders from Willits or Jones.”
Alexis checked the clip inside her handgun before wedging it into the small of her back, hidden by her coat. “I never thought I would say this, but I wish those two were here right now.”
Tunsall replied “So do I.”
After a pause, Trujillo asked, “Alexis. Do you think they are alive?”
Alexis took a deep breath and shrugged her shoulders. She answered “I would be more surprised if they were.”
Ambassador Bird came walking into the room and said “Are we preparing for battle? I thought we were safe now that we are on Belinea?”
Alexis answered “Just taking some extra precautions. Did you get ahold of Ambassador Yi or any local DAG?”
Bird said “Yi, yes. He is sending his DAG team here and leaving the Capitol Building now. He was under the impression I perished in Torsalli.”
Alexis answered “That is probably a common belief around here. Which is why from now on, you trust the three people in this room until Yi gets you a proper security detail.”
Tunsall turned around and said, “Proper security detail? What are we?”
Alexis answered quickly. “Tired. And unless you want to keep up with exhausting twenty four hour shifts, we need some help. This isn’t Molar. We can’t just shoot everyone.”
Trujillo responded “I’d like to forget Molar…”
Bird chimed in with “No one is forgetting Molar…”
Tunsall quickly added “Or Braccus…”
Trujillo, looked at Alexis with a devilish look, and added, “Or the trip to Hovron…”
Alexis tilted her head at Trujillo and said to everyone, “Everyone tighten up. A little less talk and a lot more ears up.”
Bird asked “What are we waiting on?”
Alexis answered “My brother to get back.”
Tunsall asked “He is coming back?”
Alexis just gave him a dirty look and continued looking out the window before replying “He should not bother with Christmas if he doesn’t.”
Belinea 8.6
Avola
Bisi Province
Kaya was beginning to come around. The Doctor was checking her eyes. One still had a bandage over it, but the other was flickering open. She spoke quietly. “Kaya, can you hear me?”
Kaya, slowly turning her head, responded “Yes, where am I?”
The Doctor answered, “Bisi Base. You had several skull fractures from your crash, and getting shot in the shoulder required a lot of regeneration to the bone and tissue. But you should be alright. Look at me over here.”
Kaya looked around with her one good eye. Kaya asked, “What about Cortes?”
Still looking at Kaya’s eye, she answered. “Better than you, just one small skull fracture.”
Kaya asked “My brother’s body?”
The Doctor took a breath and quietly whispered. “We have it, I am so sorry for your loss.”
Kaya paused, and whispered “I am sorry for everyone’s loss.”
After a moment, The Doctor continued. “Kaya, there is something you should know. I wasn’t able to operate properly on the eye the first time. As a result it got infected. The multiple fractures and structural damage behind the eye socket forced us to remove valuable tissue that cannot be regenerated. Frankly, I am not sure if the scar around the eye can be repaired, it is not my field. I do not think you will ever see out of that eye again.”
Kaya took a moment to process the information. She slightly nodded and said “Doc, you saved my life, I am not upset with you. Thank you.”
The Doctor said “I have to go check on some other patients.”
She got up and walked toward Ambassador Syren. She grabbed her hand on the way out and said, “Kaya will be fine.”
Syren walked over to Kaya and looked her over. Kaya said “You know the Doc? Because I do not know her name.”
Syren half smiled and said “The Doctor is Melana Bell, and she is my partner.”
Kaya looked confused. She said, “I never knew….”
Syren spok
e softly “She works at the Avolian hospital, but does work with the AuFa units as well. Her relationship to me would present a problem at work, so we keep it pretty close to the vest. She did recognize you, though, and she was responsible for getting you out of there. She will be our surgeon now because she will never be able to return.”
Kaya looked stunned. “I am sorry, Syren.”
Syren responded “These are all going to be tough decisions moving forward. Everything has changed after today. The AuFa killed several hundred innocent Avolian Miners. I am sure the Belineans will attempt to cover it up, but this is not going away. The Miners are united in a way they were not before.”
There was a long pause before Kaya managed to get out, “You know about Octavious?”
Syren nodded and whispered “Yes, I have notified Quillisar Balerra. When you are well enough, there will be a ceremony.”
Kaya responded “The second day Syren, Quill tradition. Even if I cannot walk, wheel me out there, understand?”
Syren nodded and then said “Kaya, Octavious might be dead, but you are still in danger. They know you are alive, they will come for you. We still need to keep you hidden. Perhaps even get you off the planet.”
Kaya shook her head gently. “I am not going anywhere. This planet will blow up before I leave it.”
Syren shook her head and said “How many lives have to be lost for you to understand we need to find a peaceful solution?”
Kaya looked to the side, away from Syren. After a couple of seconds, she looked back at Syren and said “Everyone is allowed to follow their own path, I will not stop them. But I have nothing now. I no longer have my brother, my family is my remaining soldiers. My path involves saving this planet and killing Argo Hassara. And I will do nothing else until that happens.”
Belinea 8.7
Belinea, Capital City
Ambassador Landing Facility, Ambassador Compound
The Ambassador Landing Facility had over three hundred spots for Ambassadors to park their private transports. Some of the junior Ambassadors were forced to park at a second facility nearby. The ramp came down on the D-21 as it had parked three spots away from the other D-21. Four guards came out, flanking a red Quillisar Priest that had his hood over his head. The guards were all carrying rifles, with one of them carrying a long skinny bag harnessed around his shoulder. They marched over to a luxurious personal TC, where two BRG officers were waiting for them. The Lead BRG asked “Credentials?”
The Lead Guard of the four held out his wristwatch so the BRG officer could scan it. He read the results out loud. “Commander Mastera of the SS, where can we take your Quillisar?”
Commander Mastera replied “We will take this TC and be on our way.”
The BRG officer said “We cannot allow that sir. We were told to take you wherever you would like to go.”
Mastersa only replied “This is a delicate matter for Quillisar Prill. Confidentiality and discretion is a must. Tell your Commander we took the TC and if there are any questions to take it up with Defense Minister Hassara herself, understand?”
The second BRG officer said, “Yes, sir.”
He signaled for the pilot to get out of the TC. As he did, the other SS officers got onboard with the Quillisar. The BRG officer said to Mastera “A Quillisar in a Sirralo? We are in the wrong line of work. Second one today no less.”
Mastersa said “What did you say?”
Worried that he might have offended Mastera, the BRG officer replied “Just a fact. We had another D-21 Sirralo land about two hours ago. Not with a Quillisar though.”
Mastersa paused, and then said, “Are they still there?”
The second BRG officer answered “No, the ship is empty.”
Mastersa said “When they return, detain them and wait for me to question them, understand?”
They both nodded in affirmative and said “Yes, sir.”
Mastera climbed into the TC, and the door closed. With all five people inside, it took off, clearing the trees. It was a cloudy day with a small misty rain in the air. As they got near the Ambassador’s Quarters, the TC found a landing spot next to one of the condo’s. The pilot turned the engines off, and everyone got out. Masters and the Quillisar, opened the long skinny bag. They took the parts inside and assembled them into a long, handheld rocket launcher. They made their way through the path and found a spot in the trees to get into. The Quillisar took his red hood off, allowing him to see through the lens of the rocket launcher. Taz lined the scope up so the other guards could see the specific condo of Ambassador Bird.
Belinea 8.8
Belinea, Capital City
AuFa Base One
Admiral Flynn was pouring himself a drink as Nick Devanoe stood at attention in front of his desk. The Admiral almost gave a half-smile, when he noticed Nick still standing that way. He said “At ease, Commander. Something to drink?”
Devanoe crossed his hands in front of his body and said “No, thank you, sir.”
Flynn did not bother sitting down. Taking a sip of his drink, he said “Before this BRG officer gets here, you mind telling me what is going on? I do not often get random transports with unidentified cargo.”
Nick looked directly at him. “Captain Kimmel and I were on Braccus sir. Our orders were to transport an Earth Ambassador, Bird, from Braccus to Torsalli and drop him off to BRG control from there. After the attack on Braccus, compounded with the explosion on Torsalli, we investigated the matter a little further.”
Admiral Flynn asked “Why are you and Captain Kimmel investigating the bombing of a transport and murder of an Earth Ambassador? That is BRG jurisdiction”
Nick paused for a second, trying to figure out how much he wanted to reveal. “The bombing took place on the AuFa base at Torsalli Space Port.”
Admiral Flynn paused for a second. He replied, “Are you aware Lord Malovex is on Torsalli?”
Nick answered “We saw him sir. He gave us the frigate to use as transport.”
Flynn looked puzzled. “Malovex gave you the frigate you flew here? Really?”
Nick replied, careful to reveal too much. “Bird’s assistant is my sister, sir. Captain Kimmel cut me some slack. The Ambassador and her were alive and well on Molar, where we found them. Through a series of events, two Earth Delegate Ambassador Guard members kept them alive.”
Admiral Flynn responded, “If the Earth Ambassador is alive, why is the BRG searching for these two Earth Guards?”
Nick paused and said “They believe they caused the explosion on Torsalli. Which they might have, I do not know. But they did not kill the Ambassador.”
Admiral Flynn took another sip. “So Kimmel told you to get this Ambassador and his assistant, your sister, here personally without turning them over to the BRG?”
Nick paused a second before making the eventual accusation. He said “Yes, sir.”
Flynn half smiled and took a sip of his drink. Well, Kimmel and I share similar views of the BRG. Sounds like you do too. Alright, and you do not know where these two Earth DAG officers are?”
Nick quickly answered “No sir. It is possible they are still alive, but I doubt it.”
Flynn nodded. He took another sip of his drink and said, “Alright. Off the record Commander, I spoke with Captain Kimmel about you. He reviewed the files of ten other candidates when searching for his new XO. I recommended someone else, but he was adamant about you. I promise, his loyalty does not come easy, but he clearly saw something in you. I advise not taking advantage of that in the future.”
Nick answered firmly “Yes, sir.”
Flynn continued “Let me deal with the BRG officer when he gets in here. I will have Lieutenant Nichols and his AuFa platoon escort the Earth Ambassador to the Ambassador Compound at Capitol City. What orders did Kimmel give you?”
Nick said “I am to take the frigate back to Braccus, unle
ss you had other orders for me.”
Flynn chuckled and said “The asshole has a sense of humor, dumping this flaming pile of shit right in my lap. And you can tell him I said that. Take the frigate back to Braccus, Commander.”
Nick half smiled and said, “Yes, sir.”
Lieutenant Orlando came walking up with five other DAG members to the frigate. He looked at the AuFa soldiers guarding the frigate and asked “Who is in charge here?”
Lieutenant Nichols turned around and answered “I am.”
Lieutenant Orlando walked directly up to him and said “Thank you for your assistance, Lieutenant, you and your platoon are relieved.”
Nichols practically laughed and said, “Lieutenant…?”
“Orlando, Earth Delegate Ambassador Guard. It is my understanding Ambassador Bird and his assistant are onboard this frigate. We will take over their security from here.”
Nichols half smiled and said “That would matter only if I took orders from you Lieutenant. However, my AuFa Commander’s orders were to let no one on or off this frigate.”
Orlando never cracked even the smallest of grins. “By Council decree 21-A.2. - All Ambassadors will have their private security for travel around Belinea and Capitol City. This includes but is not limited to: Transportation crafts, Ambassador Complex, Private Quarters, and Social Engagements. Once inside the Council Assembly, security is extended back to the Belinean Rosash Guraan, or BRG.”
Nichols stopped smiling. “Congratulations Lieutenant, on finally conquering reading, but I do not give a shit about you or any BRG decree. You are on an AuFa base, which is my jurisdiction. And my Commander gave me an order. If you would like to discuss it with him, he is up there talking to Admiral Flynn right now.”
Orlando continued to stare. He got face to face with Nichols. “I am going aboard this frigate to check on the safety of my Ambassador.”
Orlando started walking toward the ramp. Nichols stated very loudly, “Lieutenant, do not force us to shoot you.”