Taming a Raven

by Kathleen Lash

  “I located an unusual wave form, Sir. A high-pitched sequence came over when the Bolt transmitted. At first I stripped it clean, thinking it was a security breach. I’ve since refined it and it’s not mechanical. I believe your lady spoke to us.”

  “Can you translate?”

  “Sir, no one’s been able to decipher the keening cal of the raven. I’ve hailed her clan and have yet to get a response. Apparently they don’t consistently man their communications center.”

  “They damn wel should with one of them off world.” The thought became vocal before he could hold his fury.

  “Sir?”

  His response was merely heated when he replied. “Yes, Graham.”

  “Permission to reroute existing resources to decode the signal.”

  “How much of our resources?”

  The lieutenant sat poised at his station, appearing to decide whether or not to speak. No time for hesitance, Gage said, “Spit it out, Graham. If you’ve something to suggest, bring it forth.”

  “Sir,” he said. “We’d need to fly blind for a time. Internal communications and base communications would be interrupted. I could keep engines, weapons, the animal compound and medical online but would need most everything else.”

  “Estimated downtime?”

  “Twenty minutes, Sir. Given the history of smarter men than me trying to understand the raven’s cal without success… What I mean, Sir, is…”

  “You’re grasping at a remote possibility and twenty minutes is a damn eternity out here.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Everyone on the bridge looked to him to see what he’d do. He wanted transferred to the Bolt to take back Reina and his crewmembers. He’d just enough restraint to stand on that course of action. The Bolt was too far away to ensure a safe transfer. “What about shields?”

  “They’d have to come down, Sir.”

  The Theazians believed a bargain remained in place. Brach’s transmission reached Raze with Governance encoding—they couldn’t have heard.

  Too, the Theazians wanted him alive so they could extract revenge for the annihilation of their home planet. They wouldn’t blow them to bits. He estimated a ninety-eight-percent chance they wouldn’t be struck without the shields if no other surprises came from beyond. To bring the percentage up a bit, he asked, “Can you simulate shields, LeRoy? Can you tel our computers they’re deployed so if we’re scanned, it’l appear we’re running ful y operational and battle ready?”

  LeRoy chucked. “Aye, Sir, I can.”

  “And what of our tracking beacon. Can you extend its range by double so another horde of bandit ships won’t catch us unaware?”

  “Certainly, General.”

  “Graham?”

  “Yes, Sir,” the young man replied.

  “You have your twenty minutes.”

  “I’l do my best, Sir.”

  “Do a damn sight better than that, son. Do the impossible.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Chapter Eleven

  “Put it on the screen exactly as deciphered, Graham,” Gage said.

  The thousands of strings of numbers continued to scrol as the data beast shot them forth. It looked like something coming from his lady, confusing and not to the point.

  “Obviously a code,” LeRoy said.

  Gage’s eyes blurred for a moment and suddenly he saw something in the numbers. “It’s sequencing. Ask for an outcome of this nonsense in the form of a linear equation.”

  “Negative,” Graham said a minute later.

  Gage watched as the numbers fel into a different alignment. “Parametric equation, Graham.” The figures appeared more uniform. “Separately map Infur’s magnetic fields and apply the lady’s numbers to longitude and latitude coordinates.” Data began to synchronize as the computer made sense of some of it. He went to the link, brought up a virtual Infur and programmed coordinates.

  There were two points of reference. He studied the topographical design before bringing up closer imagery with both points stil visible so he could see the actual geography.

  “General?” Graham asked.

  Reluctant to turn his attention elsewhere, he eventual y spared the lieutenant a glance. “What do you need, Graham?”

  “It was quite by accident, Sir, I mistakenly left the decipher program running and once the true equations were lifted from the imprint, it appears it’s now decoding the rest. There’s language, coordinates and equations laced together.” The data beast rearranged letters and phrases faster until the process became a blur. The main viewing screen on the bridge pulsed as the computer digested, interpreted and catalogued information. Eventual y, a vague three-dimensional image of Reina appeared in the middle of the room.

  Graham gasped. “Her code’s reprogramming the data link.”

  “General,” Reina’s ghostly apparition said, the details of her face distorted. “Lieutenant Brach’s computer wil transport us to the val ey. I guarantee our progress wil be slow. You must destroy the Bolt so they can’t correct where we’re transported. Once we’re stranded, take your rescue crew to the top of the mountain. You’l be within striking distance to get the baby major. He’l need medical attention. Raze can then move into range to transport Lobank and Pinski up to your vessel. They’l be in the val ey. If he lives, your good doctor wil know what to do.” Her image was in black and white with her eyes appearing as vacant holes. Her face remained impassive like the time he’d seen her take flight. Even her words seemed mechanical. “I quite enjoyed my high adventure and thank you for your patience, Sir. Tel your president I tracked for you. The coordinates given wil hopeful y protect Haven until our young grow.”

  The image faded until it began repeating. She’d made no mention of herself and where she’d lead Brach. He doubted they’d obtain the major without drawing significant attention and time would be wasted making a successful retreat. Governance warships gathered in the distance to fol ow them in.

  They’d received the news before Graham diverted system resources to decipher Reina’s cal . There wouldn’t be time to get the major and then lead a hunt for Reina. They’d be lucky to gather up Pinski and Lobank once they fel within range to transport. She didn’t expect rescue and her sacrifice appal ed him. If she’d been a true soldier aboard his ship, he might’ve understood.

  “Why wouldn’t she stay in the val ey with the others for easy retrieval? If Brach contracted with the Theazians, why would he permit a transfer such a distance away?” Gage said aloud, trying to reason it out. Unless she tampered with the computer on the Bolt to alter coordinates.

  “Sir?” Graham asked.

  “Yes,” Gage replied, stil trying to arrange his thoughts.

  “The Governance has been tracking us and they uploaded the cipher of the lady’s cal . The vice president wil speak with you now, Sir. We’re to clear the bridge.”

  “Go,” Gage said. His crew left.

  The vice president’s image appeared on the screen. He cared little for the man, his oily and slovenly appearance no more tidy than when they’d last seen each other. “Gage, you’re al but done there. Fetch Deacon’s son and bring him back.” Distracted by thoughts of Reina and what the Theazians would do made him merely grunt in response. The vice president’s voice rose and Gage came to attention. “Once you have Blaize, you’re to turn the ship and leave Infur. An armada’s been dispatched and if possible, wil pick up the members of your crew.”

  “We’l be moments from their rescue and I’m not certain what condition they’l be in. To wait might—”

  “That’s a direct order, Ryker. Do you understand?”

  He did. The lives of Pinski and Lobank were negligible compared to that of Deacon’s son. “And the raven, Sir?”

  “Unfortunate loss, but to delay what’l happen after Blaize is aboard could permit time for the Theazian who’s honed the mind link ability to get off world. If that should happen, wel , the bastards would mimic whatever process they’ve refined. Soon a raven would hol
d no purpose whatsoever in tracking. It’d leave us hindered and wipe out their clan. Both unpleasant prospects.” Everything the vice president hadn’t said came to him. He’d spent time on the Council of Governance and somewhat knew how they thought. Infur would be destroyed, Reina and two members of his crew with it. The vice president hoped to wipe out every trace of Theazian society. Something Gage attempted years prior and hadn’t managed. With little to say, he glared while processing unavailable options.

  “When I received the report of what al ’s transpired on board Raze and the council convened on the matter, I spoke to Nakita and explained the situation. She doesn’t hold you responsible.”

  “That’s quite the relief, Sir. Glad I won’t have the burden of such on my conscience,” Gage said.

  “They’ve accepted it. They’re holding service for Lady Reina as we speak.”

  He’d been written off by the Governance once. It’d taken months to dispatch a rescue crew. Eden had unfortunately been on board for the routine scouting mission. He’d granted her request to go along only because the possibility of attack in the secure quadrant was extremely remote. Happened upon by Theazians, they’d been outnumbered and besieged.

  His commander interrupted his deliberations. He drew himself up and tried not to remember the worst of his captivity. “Come back from this mission and you’l be highly decorated. It’s been made known to me you detest your seat on the council. Bring Blaize Deacon back and your future is assured.

  Name how you’d spend your years until retirement and I’l grant it.”

  Future? He couldn’t live knowing he’d left his people on the surface to die. And he couldn’t face another eve without Reina. Eden bargained for suicide. Reina placed her life aside to protect the lives of others. He doubted she’d meekly surrender and al ow one of the bastards to slit her throat.

  She’d struggle and fight until there’d be nothing left. He wouldn’t turn his back.

  “Success in your mission, Gage.”

  Saluting him, Gage replied, “Sir.”

  * * * * *

  Pinski started coming around, which proved to be unfortunate timing. Reina emitted her cal , attempting to direct it only at Pinski and Lobank.

  Effectively narrowing it when she’d put Walter to sleep, she found it easier on a second attempt and Lobank fel , dropping Pinski. Brach and his two men went to them. The idiots probably pondered how they’d bring them along. Each time Brach wanted something from her, he gained it by hurting one of them. He wasn’t as dumb as she’d thought. If he kil ed her friends, her compliance would end. It was a pity Brach and his men weren’t already damaged so her cal could render them unconscious too. It seemed only to work on beasts and beings not completely wel .

  She stood on the sand-covered floor of the val ey, the temperature making perspiration form under the leather clothing and tight-fitting col ar. At least she was warm. Prepared to fight, she struggled to keep herself immobile and think beyond a hand-to-hand combat situation and retain clarity of mind.

  She’d been trained to whol y focus on fighting when the need arose.

  Creating a link between herself and the computer on board the Bolt drained her. The two men piloting the vessel hadn’t noticed when she’d rerouted its navigation. Al five mutineers believed transfer to the val ey was an appropriate location.

  She needed to guide Brach and his men away from Pinski and Lobank so the general could find them. As she prepared, a Theazian land hover crested the trees in the distance. The warning blasts of their lasers landed a mere foot away. The time had come to act.

  Her boots sunk in as she sprang forward, leaving her landing party rushing to catch up. She heard no fire from guns and assumed her friends remained alive. Brach and his men were probably obsessed with avoiding Theazian laser fire. Adrenaline overwhelmed her and she struggled to gulp in enough of the hot, humid air. Had she been flying or simply in fighting readiness, the rush would’ve been neutralized.

  The land hover deployed more blasts, which she easily evaded. Apparently they recognized her heritage. They wanted her alive and she knew the whip would become a fond memory in comparison to what they’d do if they got hold of her.

  She breached the first row of trees and let go of her ability to reason. Conscious thought began leaving as she became battle ready. Her breathing grew easier, her mind became focused on fighting and her muscles surged as liquid flooded them. With the tactical portion of her mission over, she gave her body to the upcoming fight.

  A Theazian crashed through the tree branches overhead to land in front of her. Unable to elude him, she ran the remaining few feet and attacked. The battle had begun. He was wel over seven feet tal , broad and muscled and the distorted facial features spread back to reveal teeth. A spine-like forehead ran down to a broad area where nostrils flared. She leapt at him and went for his throat. A smel y bloodlike substance oozed beneath her nails but it wasn’t enough to bring him down.

  The beast tossed her backward to land against a tree. She barely felt the impact before leaping to her feet. In a true fighting state anything coming near offered a target. Many such targets assailed her. She no sooner dispatched one monster before another two or three others took his place. She grabbed a handful of sand to rub into a slice in her stomach. It staunched the flow of blood so she could bring the next one down.

  Many lay dead or dying around her and the scent and sight of the slaughter incited her, spurred her to stagger back to her feet just one more time. Her strength drained and something mental y flickered. A thought actual y came to mind and she remembered her taunt at Gage about destroying the Theazians’ world. His military record relayed he’d been held captive by them. She recal ed the many scars covering most of his body. Revenge quickly became her purpose to avenge al Gage had suffered. A mantra formed. Finish what Gage sought to do. Kill them all.

  Eventual y two descended as she struggled to kil the last of them. They pinned her and she could barely move. Winded, tired, she knew down deep she’d neared the end. What seemed like long moments in battle probably represented hours. Something broke inside her, tore open and flooded until she choked soundlessly. No physical damage caused it. Clarity came for a second and she knew what’d happened. Her body might live on for a time, but her walking in two realities required payment. Reina of the Raven Clan had shattered and would soon die. The raven took over and would endure the rest.

  Almost gladly, she slipped away to find peace. The bastards could do what they wanted with the animal.

  * * * * *

  LeRoy positioned Raze as Gage readied himself for transport. He’d gone against al his better judgment and most of his military training in factoring out the correct course of action. Once he’d made up his mind however, little could sway him.

  “General,” LeRoy said, the large monitor in the transport area showing him clearly.

  “Have you exact coordinates on our missing major?”

  “We have a radius and are swinging into position, Sir, but…” Gage couldn’t believe the expression on LeRoy’s face. His second-in-command dared to speak on behalf of Reina a few eves prior, which Gage overlooked. Questioning orders in a military situation was something completely different.

  “Speak, man. I’d advise you to use extreme caution in what you relay though.” Gage made sure his voice held dire warning.

  LeRoy squared his shoulders, looked straight into the monitor and stated what bothered him. “You’re not infantry, Sir, and you damn wel don’t belong among the first to secure the area. The manual states—”

  The fifty men standing in the area ready for transport didn’t blink. No, the platoon he’d handpicked wasn’t a standard-issue group. Many officers who’d served with him for years personal y made up the rank and file. He detailed what he expected once their feet hit Infur and knew this particular group could pul it off.

  “Once I give the order, you’re to deploy the spherical bomb on the best coordinate you have for Major Deacon. I detailed
how the rest of the mission wil proceed. I need you at my back, not in my path. Can I count on you, LeRoy?”

  “Aye, Sir, always. Prepare for transport.” LeRoy offered the confirmation begrudgingly. It mattered not as long as Gage’s orders were fol owed to the letter. After a moment, he said, “We’re in position, General.”

  “Fire at wil , Mason.” After a moment, he heard the ship launch the bomb and the countdown began.

  In theory, the spherical bomb would scorch everything in a ten-mile circle while leaving the center one-mile target point radius intact. The newly developed technology had yet to be field tested. It would be that day. Gage understood the intricacies of the weapon and calculated a ninety-six percent potential for success. He wouldn’t afford Major Deacon better odds with members of his crew and Reina needing assistance a distance away. In order to get them al back on board, the major’s rescue would need to be rushed.

  “Transporting now, Sir. Best of luck,” LeRoy said before Gage and nineteen others dematerialized. The rest would fol ow in the next few series of transfers.

  Smoke drifted over the immediate vicinity where they landed. Gage chose the direction and began running. He’d studied the landscape previously and knew the route to the largest cavern. The platform at the top of the mountain was three miles in diameter. The only problems they should encounter would be Theazians remaining inside the one-mile radius. He knew the cavern could be packed with the bastards, but he’d have forty-nine men to help the creatures die.

  He slowed his gait to a fast walk as he approached the mouth of the cave. If the enemy lay within, he’d need to find out soonest. They had nine minutes and thirty seconds left to exact the major’s rescue in order to have sufficient time to fetch the others.

  Two Theazians rushed from the opening and slid to cover behind large rocks. His men remedied the situation before the enemy could fire a single round. Gage armed half his men with HERF mini-cannons. The boulders, Theazians and most everything else in the general vicinity was eradicated expeditiously.