"Alright." Captain Barnabus looked around the room, rubbing his hands together. "Let's get these folks on over to the Rhan system and get them settled."
Roni's eyes widened and she turned to look at Zadria, who also appeared to be surprised. The awkward glances continued on to Billy and Ryan both before the captain turned on his heel and left the room, whistling. Roni passed Darla back to her mother and helped Zadria to her feet before the two of them made their way back to the center of the room.
"The Rhan system? Are these people going to be okay there?" Zadria whispered.
"Every planet there is a mining colony," Billy said, shaking his head. "We can't ask them to go back to that."
"Well, what stage are they at though? If it's like the good days on Hera then it won't be so bad." Ryan shrugged.
"Because the good days last forever, right?" Roni rolled her eyes.
"Look, bickering among ourselves isn't going to help these people." Billy paused to look around the room. Whispers were traveling around from those who were more familiar with the system than others. "Maybe we can still find a way out of this."
"One of us is going to have to volunteer as a liaison," Zadria commented. "It's the only way."
Roni stared at her a moment, considering. "That's not a bad idea. Someone to represent the folks from Hera and see to it that they're treated properly. That way the captain isn't just unloading them on some random planet to get them back into the workforce."
"I was thinking more like someone volunteers to look after them then gets them the hell out of there at the first opportunity," Zadria added.
Roni chuckled. "You're really starting to think like a rebel now."
Zadria blushed.
"I'll do it," Billy spoke up. "I'll go with them. I can fly the transport if I need to, once it's clear."
"But where will you go?" Zadria asked.
"Skanth," Roni and Ryan said in unison.
"I... have never heard of such a place." Billy looked to Zadria, who shrugged.
"It's uncharted," Roni explained. "Not far from here. It was an old rebel outpost but we abandoned it because we outgrew it. Some stayed behind but as far as I know, the GC hasn't found it. Unless..."
"What?" Ryan asked as Roni stared at him.
"You were one of them for a while."
"I... don't remember if I told them anything," he said sheepishly.
"GC resources are spread thin right now with the rebels, the Vaerians, and the pirates. If they knew about it I bet they'd have already come and gone." Zadria whispered.
"It's our best bet," Billy said, looking around the room. "But what will you guys do?"
"We have to go back to the rebel home planet," Roni stated flatly.
"We do?" Zadria asked.
Roni couldn't help but smirk at her. "Boy, have things changed. But, yes. We need to tell them about what happened on Hera. And, I'm pretty sure we should get this guy's head checked out." Roni jutted her thumb toward Ryan.
"So, sounds like we've got a solid plan." Ryan grinned. "We'll all get Captain Dufus here to clear us to go down on the planet, then Billy will take these lovely people to Skanth while the rest of us try to head home."
"Why don't we just bring them back with us?" Zadria asked.
"I don’t know that we have the resources to care for all these people. The rebel population has been increasing exponentially, and our supply chain has had a difficult time keeping up and remaining inconspicuous. If we draw too many resources to one planet then we’ll give away our position. Of course, I can always ask Dad… but he’s already going to be pissed that we took off without permission... especially given the situation we found ourselves in. But if I bring home a bunch of strays on top of that... well, I'll probably never get off the ground again." Roni sighed. "But don't worry, Billy, we'll do everything we can to send a supply run over to help you all get on your feet once while we figure it out."
"Much appreciated," he said with a nod.
"Alright," Ryan said, clapping his hands together. “I guess it's time to go talk to the captain."
Roni took a deep breath. “Wait…”
Ryan turned back and raised his eyebrows.
A thousand things were running through her head. They had rescued as many as they could, but she had no idea if they had gotten everyone. They didn’t have time to search all the buildings in the city, or the farms for that matter. David would have never let her leave unless he knew for sure that they weren’t leaving anyone behind.
“We’re coming with you,” Roni said, gesturing to Zadria and Billy.
“I… don’t think that’s a good idea…” Ryan’s gaze shifted between the three of them.
“You know, I think I agree with Ryan this time,” Zadria chimed in.
“Do you still not trust me?” Ryan asked with a frown.
“It’s not that.” Roni sighed. “If… if David were here, he’d go back. Make sure we got everyone. Search what’s left of the city and the towns. I just… If I can convince the captain to go down for another look then I know it would have made David immensely happy.”
Ryan looked confused. “So, what? You’re going to threaten the captain?”
“No!” Roni pouted a little. “I was going to try to appeal to his human side… if he’s still got one, buried deep down under all that GC armor.”
Ryan snickered. “I’m sorry, I just didn’t peg you for the type.”
Roni frowned at him. “Shut your mouth and take me to the captain.”
He paused, studying her face. “Okay, but just you and Billy. The fewer people I march into his office with, the better.”
“I can keep an eye on things here,” Zadria said with a smile.
Roni and Billy followed Ryan out of the holding cell and past the two guards outside. The guards stiffened.
“It’s okay,” Ryan reassured them, but his words didn’t seem to offer much comfort as Roni could feel their eyes on her until they rounded the next corner.
It took a series of hallways and an elevator before they found themselves outside the bridge.
“Wait here,” Ryan instructed Roni and Billy as he entered.
Roni shifted her weight anxiously, eyeing the guard outside the door of the bridge. “So, you guys sure stand around guarding stuff a lot. I can’t imagine that’s much fun.”
“Actually, ma’am, we just report to guard duty when there are… undesirables on board,” he responded with a sneer.
Roni clenched her fists, and the guard drummed his fingers on his blaster.
The bridge door slid open, and Captain Barnabus exited, walking past Roni and Billy with Ryan on his heels. Ryan gestured for them to follow. Roni gave the guard another glare before she fell in behind the others.
The captain led them to a small conference room and took the seat at the head of the oval table inside. Ryan, Billy, and Roni sat as two other guards funneled in.
“I’m told you wished to speak with me?” Captain Barnabus asked Billy.
“Me. I wanted to speak to you,” Roni said, pointing at herself.
The captain raised an eyebrow at Roni and nodded. “Proceed.”
Roni stared at the man, trying to calm the rage boiling up from the pit of her stomach. If she had her weapons she could easily dispatch the man, though she’d probably be killed in the process. No, that wouldn’t serve David’s memory or satiate her revenge. She inhaled slowly, trying to push her anger aside. “You need to send one of your ships back down to Hera.”
“I need to?” His puzzled tone matched the expression on his face.
“It benefits all of us, really,” she continued. “The people of Hera have already lost a lot. Everything, really. But when it comes down to it, you didn’t actually do anything to help them.”
“Roni,” Ryan cautioned under his breath.
“I’m not sure what you’re getting at,” Barnabus said, shifting in his seat and narrowing his eyes at Roni.
“So, what? They managed to escape t
he hell bubbling up out of the ground and you were here to just scoop them up? Hardly ‘heroic,’ don’t you think?” She gave a quick shrug. “I thought the GC took these award things seriously. Once they investigate then they’re going to see that you just happened to be in the right place at the right time and didn’t really risk… well, anything.”
Captain Barnabus began to take on a red hue as he clutched the edge of the table.
Roni smirked, finding joy in his irritation. “Or… you could send a team down to the surface and make sure everyone was safely evacuated. Shouldn’t be difficult. A quick bio-scan should be able to pick up anyone who was left behind in the chaos. But you’d have to act quick because things are really heating up down there.”
“If you think—” Barnabus started, seeming to double in size.
“Then you’d be a real hero,” Roni continued. “And you wouldn’t have to worry about other officers talking behind your back about how you tried to take credit for a bunch of miners escaping a planet that your men helped push over the edge.”
Captain Barnabus stood, nodding at the guards, who quickly surrounded Roni, each grabbing an arm and pulling her out of her seat.
“Then, you can assign Billy here as the liaison for the miners. I’m sure he’s more than happy to put in a good word for you… that is, if you go back to the planet to check. And he’s a cop, so you know his word will count for something.”
Barnabus held up a hand, causing the guards to release Roni. He looked to Billy. “You’re a police officer?”
“Well, I was. But yes. Highly respected, too.”
“Do you think you left many behind?” Barnabus asked.
“Many?” Billy paused. “No, I wouldn’t say there are a lot. But I’m sure there are some. But, as brash as this redhead is, she has a point, sir. The risk to go back down and get any other remaining survivors is only going to look favorable on your record. Not to mention the fact that it will improve relations between the GC and civilians.”
“Which,” Roni cut in, “given the circumstances and what was happening down there… well, let’s just say it’d be a shame for word to get out at the other mining colonies about what happens when the GC closes up shop. But I imagine if you went back for their friends and family that we’d be able to get everyone to keep their mouths shut.”
“So, if we go back down there for one more check, then the people of Hera will stay quiet about their working conditions?” Barnabus asked, easing back into his seat.
Roni nodded. “That’s the idea.”
“And if no one is left?”
She shrugged. “At least you tried. But you are kind of running out of time.”
Barnabus shifted his gaze back to Billy. “And you speak for them?”
“You have my word,” he answered with a polite bow of his head.
“Prep the medevac team,” Barnabus ordered as he stood and made his way for the door. “And get these two back to their cell.”
Roni grinned as the guards grabbed her and shoved her toward the door. It may not have been the exact same method that David would have taken to get Barnabus to bend to his will, but it worked in the end. She gave Billy a wink as the guards marched them down the hall together.
Chapter 9
Roni pointed the showerhead into the tub, rinsing away the ring of dirt and grime left behind after the first good cleaning she'd had since she and Zadria left home. Despite her aching body and fatigued mind, the water helped rejuvenate her.
It had been five days since they were uneventfully flown down to the surface of Greschu, a planet with a handful of small mines. Captain Barnabus’ search for survivors had turned up another twenty-six individuals, who had all received medical attention. Their arrival helped boost the morale of the miners, who had all agreed to sound off on how heroic Barnabus was. At least until they could act out the second half of their plan.
Since then, they'd received hot meals, health screenings, and daily showers. Roni opened the drawer containing her freshly cleaned suit and slipped into it, still feeling naked without her weapons. Most weapons were outlawed on Greschu. The GC said it was to protect the people, but Roni knew it was a preemptive attempt to prevent an uprising. Still, currently, the planet was nice. Kids played on street corners, there was an abundance of small businesses, and working in the mines was still a choice at this stage. When the people of Greschu were ready for their uprising, then the rebels would come in true rebel fashion. Until then, there’d be no convincing them of the evils of the GC. Previous attempts to prove the dangers of handing the keys to the planet over to the Galactic Conglomerate always fell short of the desired effect. People didn’t seem to understand until they lived it themselves.
As she moved to the window overlooking the city, she couldn't help but wonder exactly how long all of that would last. Time and time again she had witnessed planetary abandonment from the GC. To them, planets were expendable.
A soft knock on the door drew her attention. She finished donning her boots then opened it to see Zadria standing outside. "Ready?"
"Yeah, let's do this," Roni said, a mischievous grin growing on her face as she stepped into the hall.
Roni knocked on Billy's door. He opened it and stepped outside quietly with a nod. The next door was Ryan's. He looked considerably more nervous. He had requested to be left behind to work with Billy to ensure the miners were cared for and behaved themselves. Barnabus seemed to have no problem leaving all of them behind him on his way to go speak to the awards committee. Billy, Ryan, Sarah, and a few others had already recorded their favorable statements.
"You doing alright there?" Billy asked, slapping Ryan on the shoulder and giving him a gentle shake.
"Yeah, just not feeling too well," he answered.
"Are the ships ready?" Roni asked in a whisper. "Coordinates programmed?"
Ryan nodded.
"I guess this is it, then. Take care, Billy. May our paths cross again." Roni offered a smile with her handshake before the others did the same.
Billy turned to walk down the hall as other doors began to pop open. Before long, the last of the people from Hera flooded into the hall, trailing off after Billy for their scheduled support meeting in the wilderness refuge.
"Follow me," Ryan said as he slipped into an adjoining hallway. They wound through the building's staff hallways, which were much less impressive than the wide halls of the residential area. The kitchen staff had just stepped away after breakfast and would return shortly to prepare lunch. There was no time to dawdle as they made their way along the carefully timed route, out the service entrance and into the paved area behind the building. A few scattered vehicles were parked about, but no one was in sight.
Ryan beckoned them to follow as he led them into the tall grass beyond the pavement. Not far from there was a massive chain-link fence crowned with curls of razor wire. He rolled a large rock away from the fence to reveal a hole that allowed them to slip under the sensors lining the bottom.
"So glad I showered for this," Roni said with a snort.
"Well, I can't very well cut through the fence, and going over looks... hurty, so what other options did we have?" Ryan glared at her.
"Take it easy, dude. I don't know what your problem is but you've really been on edge the past few days."
Roni widened her eyes at Zadria, who stifled a chuckle as they got to their feet.
"It's over here."
She followed Ryan through rows of dilapidated ships. "This looks like a junkyard."
"It is."
Roni opened her mouth to protest, but Zadria placed a reassuring hand on her arm, shaking her head. Roni reluctantly bit her tongue as they marched on.
Finally, Ryan stopped in front of a ship that looked only marginally better than the others. "Ta-da!"
"That's it, huh?" Roni asked, scrunching up her nose and trying to hide her disdain.
"Yup. She wasn't as broken as they thought she was when they parked her here. I've made a few adjust
ments, and she should fly."
"Should?" Roni and Zadria asked together.
"Well, yeah. I mean, I'm pretty sure."
"There are no weapons," Zadria pointed out.
"Yeah, well, nothing here has weapons so there's not much we can do about that. I did install a better shield generator though, so... that's something."
"It's something, alright." Roni sighed. "Let's do this."
They climbed inside, Ryan and Zadria taking the pilot's chairs while Roni helped herself to a jump-seat. "You sure you guys can fly this? Billy and the others are counting on us."
"Positive." Ryan grinned and passed Roni a small screen. "Make sure you keep an eye on what's happening. As soon as we get the okay from Billy, we're going to need to stop screwing around and get the hell out of here."
"You got it," Roni said, powering up the device. A woman was on the screen, neatly dressed and gesturing to a map indicating various temperatures across the region.
The ship rattled and hummed as it lifted off the ground. As it slowly increased in altitude, a light fixture casing in the back fell from the ceiling.
"Ryan, if you kill me in this thing..." Roni warned.
"It'll be alright," he said, slowly steering the ship in a circle above the junkyard. "Are we ready for operation distraction?"
"More than ready. Let's give them something to talk about," Roni said with a grin.
Zadria laughed as the ship lurched forward toward the nearby city.
One of the first things they were told after they arrived was that the city allowed ground-only vehicles within ten kilometers. Flying vessels were reserved for the port outside of town, though they could also be used to explore the unpopulated countryside. Roni felt it was just another way to keep people in line, but as their small ship nearly missed a billboard, she started to consider that maybe it was safer this way.
Ryan led the ship toward the downtown area, where skyscrapers towered above the smaller residential suburbs. "Here we go!"
They looped around one of the tall buildings, close enough that Roni could see out the windshield as people stood up from their desks in awe. Corkscrewing upward until they ran out of stories, Ryan then began figure-eights between two other towers.
Rebel Yell: Operation Ardent Redux: Episode 1 (A Space Opera Adventure) Page 9