“Diosa was hurt in the fabrication shop. She wanted to see her nephew before the pain killers took full effect. I didn’t think Captain Ritva would mind,” Marikit explained as Warlock sat down heavily and hung her head. When the guard shrugged, the doctor called out. “Pio, come here please.”
A dark-haired boy of six jumped up from a chair at the front of the room and near the guard. He squared his shoulders and marched to the doctor. Diosa watched him out of the corner of her left eye. The boy took in everything and everybody as he walked.
As he approached, Marikit bent down and whispered in the boy’s ear, “It’s a game Pio. Play along. This is your Aunt Diosa. Ask her how she is feeling.”
His eyes had been scanning the room through narrow slits. At the mention of a game, they opened wide revealing large brown eyes.
“Aunt Diosa. What happened?” he inquired in a voice that was louder than necessary.
“A cutting tool,” Warlock said while pulling the boy in close for a hug.
While Pio and Diosa were locked in the embrace, Doctor Marikit waved for the remaining nine children to follow her to the other side of the room.
“Children come with me and give them some privacy,” Marikit ordered. They followed the doctor and formed a semicircle in front of her. “How are you feeling?”
While the doctor quizzed each child, Diosa whispered to Pio.
“Pio. I’m going to show you a bottle of pills,” instructed Warlock. “When I shake them, grab the bottle from my hand and run around the left side of the guard. Laugh and make a lot of noise. Can you do that for me?”
“Sure, Aunt Diosa. I’m good at games,” Pio assured her. Looking at her arm, he asked, “Can I sign your cast?”
“Yes, but after you do your part. Be sure to run until you reach the doctor,” Diosa whispered. She fumbled pulling the large pill bottle from her pocket. Then in a regular voice announced, “The doctor gave me these.”
Diosa shook the pill container and it rattled like a can full of pebbles. Pio snatched it from her hand and ran towards the guard.
“Oh, my pills,” yelled Diosa as she bent over and struggled to stand.
Pio had reached the edge of the desk where the guard sat. Between the manic cries of happiness from the boy and the clanging of the pill bottle, the guard couldn’t help but chuckle at the boy’s antics. When the doctor, in a frustrated voice, called for Pio to bring the pills to her, the guard’s attention shifted to Marikit. As Pio rounded the desk, the guard turned to see what the little brat would do next. This was a break in the routine from watching over ten small children. With his head turned towards Pio and Marikit, the guard completely forgot about the injured Aunt Diosa.
Warlock came out of the chair stooped over. She used the posture to hide her hand as it snaked into the sling and grabbed the baton. Pio passed behind the desk and out of the attack zone. The guard, turning his head to follow the boy’s progress, gave Master Sergeant Alberich an opening. Whether it was the snapping of the baton sections as they expanded or he had excellent peripheral vision, she didn’t know. When Warlock was sill three strides from him, the guard jerked around and reached for his rifle.
The attack plan called for clubbing the guard with the baton. But his reaching for the rifle changed that. Instead of coming in swinging, Warlock launched herself.
Leading with her head, Warlock speared the guard in his ribs. They both tumbled onto and over the desk. While the guard had one arm stretched out reaching for the rifle and the other low in his lap, the former Striker held her arms out. Once they toppled off the back edge of the desk, Warlock caught her weight and hand sprung over and onto her feet. The guard ended up on his back. After a pivot, she managed to strike him with the baton while dropping a knee on his exposed throat.
Pio ran to Doctor Marikit and threw his arms around her leg. He’d seen Diosa and the guard fall behind the desk. Not knowing who would emerge, the doctor collected the children and moved them further away from the combatants. They waited until a hand rose and clutched the edge of the desk. When Warlock rose into view, Pio spoke up.
“Aunt Diosa. Where’s your cast?” he asked as Master Sergeant Alberich stood behind the desk.
“I’m sorry Pio. It came off in the fight,” Diosa explained. “Maybe Doctor Marikit can make a new one and everyone in the class can sign it.
“I’m signing first,” announced Pio.
“First, Aunt Diosa is going to get us out of here,” Marikit announced to the children. Then to Warlock inquired, “Aren’t you?”
***
“Doctor Marikit. Please look out the door and tell me if you see a guard down at the first ring,” requested Warlock before stooping behind the desk and retrieving the pistol. She ignored the broken sunglasses and pulled the goggle out of a pocket.
“Stay here children,” Marikit urged as she crossed the room and pulled open the door. She leaned over the threshold, peeked down the hallway to the left and right and stepped back. “No one is there except the guard at the hatch.”
Diosa visualized the hallway as she pulled the goggle from a pocket and slid it over her eye. To the left, the hall ran by the medical clinic and through intersecting corridors before ending at the first ring. Someone could enter the hallway from one of the corridors at any time and see her approaching the guard. Although the guard and hatch were closer, just five doors away, the approach offered no cover.
“If anyone comes through the door except me,” Warlock said as she marched towards the door. “Claim you came in and found the guard unconscious and the children terrified.”
“I’m not afraid,” boasted Pio.
“No, you are not, my brave Devil Dog. But it’s part of the game,” Diosa informed the boy as she reached the classroom’s door. “Mind the doctor.”
She eased the door open, stepped into the hallway and turned towards the guard at the airlock. With the pistol behind her right leg, Warlock used a gliding gait so she didn’t bounce or make exaggerated movements. Both motions would draw the guard’s attention. Thankfully, her target sat staring at his PID with his legs stretched out in front of the ship’s hatch.
Warlock had passed two of the five doors when the third opened. Partially turned in the doorway, a woman reached back to close the door. With an encounter sure to alert the guard a second away, the former Striker lowered a shoulder and ran at the woman. The impact drove the woman from the doorway and deep into the room. Warlock paused just long enough to close the door before jumping to where the woman lay on the deck.
Enyd Kealan rolled over, her face contorted in pain and shock. Then, seeing who had assaulted her, she smiled.
“Inspector Alberich, what a surprise finding you here and in good health,” Enyd exclaimed. “You are resilient, aren’t you? After that space slug Klaas Luger failed to temporally remove you, I had hoped the explosion would do it permanently.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Miss Kealan,” Diosa responded. “And I wish I had time for a long conversation but I’m sort of busy.”
“Why the rush? You can’t get far with loyal Empress soldiers in control of this half of the base,” Enyd explained. “And once our warship arrives, we’ll bring down Constabulary Troops and take control of the entire repair facility.”
“The Galactic Council Marine Corps and the Navy will have something to say about your prediction,” Warlock suggested. “I do have a previous engagement but please humor me. Who do you work for? Are you an Empress sympathizer who did the bombing as an act of terrorism? Or a corporate spy collecting a fee for causing disruption for the benefit of your corporate masters? Or just a psychopath who uses men for her own pleasure then kills them.”
“Let me give you a hint,” Enyd said inhaling deeply. “Smell the air on the salvage base? Come on inspector, take a breath.”
Warlock sniffed and asked, “So what? It has a nice spicy scent.”
“It stinks,” Enyd said as her foot lashed out at Warlock’s knee.
Exp
ecting the kick to throw the inspector off balance or make her dodge, Kealan rolled onto her belly and placed her hands to push off the floor. It came as a surprise when something hard struck her head knocking her flat.
“What about the air stinks?” Warlock asked as she pressed the pistol barrel into the back of the woman’s head. With her other hand, she lifted the goggle.
“Where I came from we bask in the aroma of ketone and the strength it takes to breathe low levels of oxygen,” Enyd stated.
“You’re a Traveler?” inquired Warlock.
“Yes. A Traveler and a descendant of those exiled with the Empress. I am Major Enyd Kealan of the Empress’ Royal Constabulary,” Enyd bragged. Then the pressure on the back of her head increased as the pistol shook from Warlock’s indecision. “Go ahead and shoot inspector. I’m willing to give my life. I’ll die knowing the Empress loves me.”
“Not so fast, Empress fan girl. Let’s set the record straight,” Diosa said as she pulled back the pistol. “I’m not an inspector for Naval Movement Command.”
“I didn’t think so. None of them are smart enough to get this close to me,” Enyd boasted. “Okay, what are you? Besides being a dead woman.”
“Master Sergeant Diosa Alberich from Striker Command, Call Sign Warlock,” the retired Marine announced. At the mention of the Strikers, a shiver ran from Major Kealan’s head to her feet. “This should be more fun.”
“What should be more fun, Butcher?” challenged Major Kealan.
“You know, having the chance to speak with a worthy adversary,” replied Warlock ignoring the taunt. Besides, the Constabulary officer was correct, the Strikers were butchers. Diosa couldn’t wait to tell Striker Command the forces of the Empress had given them a nickname. “For instance, why would a Constabulary officer be sleeping around for Pesetas? And doing the dirty work for a fat cat billionaire? It seems beneath a Major. Oh, I see. You’re a foul up and got the assignment because you’re lacking in leadership abilities. Or maybe you can’t keep your pants on. See, it should be more fun, or at least inspiring, but you’re not worth my time.”
Enyd bucked at the insults but the hard end of the pistol kept her from doing more.
“I was chosen for the assignment because of my stellar record,” Enyd said defending herself. “I did what the mission required of me.”
“I can see the advantages of sending a disgraced, amoral Major to use a honey trap on Emil Maraike. Of course, you had to kill him to hide your shame,” Warlock sneered.
“I am not ashamed,” Enyd stated. “Emil Maraike was but a useful tool. Jordy Katrijn is a spider with a Realm wide web. When the Empress comes, the Constabulary will crush Katrijn as well as your Galactic Council.”
“You talk big for someone Jordy Katrijn sends out to seduce men. There’s a name for that profession,” Warlock said in disgust. “In the meantime, before your precious Empress comes, he’ll use you again and again. Like I said, you’re not worth my time.”
“He will not use me again,” Enyd avowed. “I know about his…”
She stopped talking. She’d said too much and knew it. The brag didn’t get by Warlock. The Striker raised the pistol and brought it down against Kealan’s temple. The Constabulary Major went limp. Before Diosa gagged and tied up Enyd, she unstrapped the Major’s PID and shoved it into a pocket. She’d question Enyd later and hopefully Walden would get intelligence from the device. Between the two of them, they might get enough on Jordy Katrijn so the agency would give her permission to go after the man and his organization.
Revenge is a terrible motivator, she thought upon reaching the door to the room. But someone had to get a little payback for Spencer Tygo. Peeking out into the hallway, she wondered if the guard had been disturbed by the conversation. Apparently not. He still sat with his eyes on the PID. With one last glimpse at the bound Major Enyd Kealan, Warlock stepped through the doorway.
***
Two doors down the hallway, roughly six meters, was just enough distance for the guard to pull his eyes away from the PID and snatch up his rifle. But not enough time to thumb off the safety before Master Sergeant Alberich’s flying knee shoved the rifle aside and hammered the guard’s chin. Unfortunately for Warlock, he had an iron jaw.
She connected and bounced off. After two steps back to regain her balance, the former hand-to- hand combat instructor stepped forward. Using a right open-handed cross block to shove the rifle barrel aside, Warlock then pounded her left fist up under the guards forward elbow. The elbow and rifle elevated drastically. Her right hand circled down under the elevated arm and shot forward. The knife edge of the hand popped the guard’s Adam’s apple. Where his chin could take a punch, his throat flexed and he gagged.
While the guard fought for air and waved his rifle trying to ward off the woman, Warlock planted her left foot. Kicking off with her right, she chambered the leg as she spun. Raising the bent leg during the rotation, it rose into position and she snapped it out at shoulder level. Her boot clipped the top of his shoulder and a millisecond later the hard toe buried itself in his temple. The guard collapsed into his chair.
“That’s convenient,” Warlock mumbled as she pushed the unconscious guard and the chair away from the hatch.
Warlock spun the wheel and the well-oiled locking logs retracted. But she delayed in opening the hatch. First, she shoved the guard and the chair to the left side. Then she leaned over the guard, grabbed the wheel, pulled the hatch open and ducked down behind the chair. When no shots rang out, she came up like a sprinter, put both hands on the chair back and rammed it into the knee knocker. The chair stopped abruptly. The guard lifted out of the seat and fell forward. He ended up draped over the high metal step of the hatch. Peering out from behind the chair, she saw another hatch a couple of meters beyond the first. It was closed.
Warlock had a decision to make. Go collect the children and stash them in the open space before attempting to open the next hatch. Or test it to be sure it wasn’t chained from the other side. In that case, the doctor and children would be trapped in a no man’s land.
One, she could go get the children right now. The other left her exposed and allowed time for someone to come down the hallway and spot her. As long as the children were on this side of the base she couldn’t go on into attack mode. Leaping the injured guard, Warlock ran to the next hatch. Spinning the wheel, she pulled and stepped behind the thick metal as kinetic rounds pinged off the surface.
“Check fire,” she shouted figuring stopping Ryo’s man was more important than maintaining silence. “Check fire. Children coming through.”
“What children?” a voice called back.
“Ten children and Doctor Marikit,” Warlock said chancing to poke her face around the hatch.
“How do I know this isn’t a trap?” asked a lone man standing behind a barricade of crates.
“Because they’re short and some need help getting over the knee knocker,” Warlock described. “If it’s an attack, it’ll be the slowest in military history.”
“Okay. But don’t make any sudden moves,” he replied.
“Be back in a second,” Warlock promised as she opened the hatch all the way and walked back through the other one. She grabbed the guards thirty-five kinetic rifle and went to the classroom.
***
“Single file, follow Doctor Marikit,” Diosa ordered the children.
With Warlock on one knee watching to the left, the ten children followed the doctor to the first hatch. A glance over her shoulder showed Marikit having to lift six of the children to place them on the far side of the hatch. Seeing no one down the hall, Diosa left her position and ran to help the doctor.
“I can get over myself,” Pio announced as Warlock picked him up.
“I’m sure you can Leatherneck,” she said giving him a hug. “But you are needed on the other side to help the doctor organize the children. Can you do that?”
“Hooah, ma’am,” the little guy replied.
“Wrong branch
but I’ll take the affirmative,” Warlock said as she placed him on the other side of the raised plate.
They had all ten children over the first knee knocker when two shots impacted beside the hatch. Warlock pulled the injured soldier out of the way and closed the hatch. She didn’t spin it down all the way.
Ryo’s guard left the barricade after seeing the children and the doctor. He helped and when the last child was over the second knee knocker, the doctor stepped over and moved away to make room for the Marine. Turning, she expected to see Diosa join her. Instead, Warlock stood on the other side of the hatch.
“Aren’t you coming?” inquired Doctor Marikit.
“No ma’am, the job is not finished yet,” Warlock replied as she closed the hatch.
Chapter 16 – Command and Chaos
The hallway acted as a channel guiding the rounds from the second ring corridor to the hatch. For the two soldiers of the Empress, it made the targeting easy. What they didn’t consider, it also worked for Warlock. She nudged the hatch open enough to sight down the hall and unloaded a magazine of thirty-fives in their direction. When they ducked, or so the Striker hoped, she jumped over the low frame and sprinted to the room where she’d left Enyd Kealan. The Constabulary Major was gone.
After inserting a fresh magazine, Warlock pulled a chair to the doorway. The natural tendency for shooters in a station or spaceship was to use the deck as a reference point. Strikers viewed and used the entire area of a passageway. From the top of the door frame, she leaned out and, although the distance negated a lot of the drop, she fired down on the soldiers. At that distance, the difference was millimeters. As the soldiers’ sighted and pinged rounds at chest height or lower, Warlock’s came from above. Her rounds were combat sighted and squeezed off rapidly. As a result, both soldiers suffered only minor wounds.
They dropped to the deck and scurried around the corner for protection. Seeing them disengage, Warlock leaped over the chair back, sprinted to the fourth corridor, slid around the bend and ran.
Op File Treason Page 12