by Ryk Brown
“What happens after that?” Kit asked.
“I’ll try to convince him to come aboard to talk,” Nathan told them. “The rest we’ll have to play by ear.”
“Nathan moves, you move,” Jessica reminded them. “Adjust formation as you see fit. If we receive fire, return fire only as necessary to defend the captain and yourselves.”
“LZ in sight,” Josh reported over the intercom.
“How does the LZ look?” Jessica asked, tilting her head up to be heard clearly.
“Nine people, eight of them armed. Two ground vehicles,” Dylan reported. “No other weapons within several kilometers.”
“What about further out?” Jessica asked.
“I’m using a tight sensor band for resolution purposes,” Dylan told her. “The entire planet is bathed in some sort of sensor-scattering field. Narrowband is the only way to see through it.”
“That’s new,” Nathan commented.
“Let’s hope that’s the only trick they have up their sleeves,” Jessica said.
“On final now,” Josh reported.
“As soon as we’re down, take main propulsion offline,” Nathan reminded Josh.
“I remember,” Josh assured him.
“Don’t forget to drop the shields before you execute the jump,” Vladimir chimed in.
“What?” Jessica exclaimed, surprised.
“We need the power in the shield buffers to make the jump without using the reactors,” Vladimir explained. “Otherwise, we’d have to spin them up to at least sixty percent.”
“And you didn’t think this was worth mentioning beforehand?” Nathan wondered.
“I didn’t mention it?”
“No, you didn’t.”
“Huh, I could have sworn I did,” Vladimir defended.
“The shields will only be down for a split second,” Dylan pointed out. “A jump that short won’t take more than a tenth of a second to execute, and I wrote a quick subroutine for the AI to drop the shields and initiate the jump. We’ll only be vulnerable for zero point four seconds.”
The ship rocked gently, a thud reverberating through the hull as its gear touched the surface.
“We’re down,” Josh reported. “Cutting mains; spinning reactor down to twenty percent to maintain shields.”
“Is there anything else you forgot to tell us?” Nathan asked Vladimir.
“Nyet,” Vladimir replied. “I don’t believe so.”
Nathan took a breath. “Let’s do this,” he told Jessica, putting his comm-set in his ear.
Jessica moved to the left of the cargo ramp, to the control panel. She waited, watching Nathan, who donned the hooded long-coat that he had brought with him, the one he usually wore as Conner when visiting rainy worlds like Palee.
Jessica activated the ramp, starting the opening cycle. The Ghatazhak took up their position; two groups of three abreast near edge of the ramp.
No light came through as the ramp cracked open along its top edge and began folding open. It was nighttime, which was all the better. As the ramp came down past level and continued toward the surface, more details became visible. They were indeed on the top of a hill or small mountain and could see city lights as far as the horizon stretched. Nor-Patri was indeed a planet-wide city, at least from their vantage point.
The ramp stopped as it contacted the surface. All six Ghatazhak scanned the area, looking about and allowing their AIs to search for threats.
“Whatever their scattering field is, it screws up ours as well,” Kit reported over the intercom, his suit-comms automatically connected to the Voss’s intercom system.
“Dylan?” Jessica called. “Any points around us higher than us?”
“Negative,” Dylan replied. “And we have a clear line in the direction of the planet’s rotation.”
“That will have to do,” Nathan stated, his head covered with the hood of his long-coat, partially obscuring any direct view of his face.
“Move out,” Jessica ordered.
All six Ghatazhak marched down the cargo ramp, getting into the open-arrow formation as they reached the ground. They came to a stop just shy of the aft shield line.
Kit, who was at the inside position of the left group, kept his eyes on the group of men standing in front of the vehicles parked ten meters distant. “Nine moving toward,” he reported. “Eight armed, full combat gear, heavy weapons. Center subject is unarmed.”
“That’s got to be our guest,” Jessica stated.
“Here goes nothing,” Nathan said as he started toward the ramp. He walked down, maintaining an even stride. His father’s voice echoed in his head. To win a negotiation, you must appear confident in your position from the start. Any sign of hesitation will be interpreted as weakness, inviting opposition even when such was not originally planned.
“Targets have stopped,” Kit reported. “They are now nine abreast, one meter outside the shields.”
Nathan kept his head down, not wanting to reveal his face until he was in position.
Jessica stood inside the cargo door next to the control panel, hidden from view.
“Captain is entering the pocket,” Kit reported as Nathan came to a stop in the middle of the formation.
Kor-Dom Borrol took one step forward. “I am Kor-Dom Jung-Borrol, leader of the Jung-Borrol caste, ruler of the empire. Are you the one who wishes to speak with me?”
“Instruct your guards to move back,” Nathan said, without revealing his face.
“So that you can strike me down?”
“If I wished to kill you, or even your entire world, I could have done so without putting myself and my people at risk,” Nathan replied. “I ask that you move your guards back for your political well-being, not for our physical safety. After all, you may still choose to refuse my offer once it has been heard.
Kor-Dom Borrol observed Nathan for a moment. The man was about the right height and build, from best he could remember, but he could see nothing but the man’s chin. However, he also knew that the man was right. His earlier communication with the man claiming to be Nathan Scott had been encrypted, with no one within earshot on his end. If the hooded man was Nathan Scott, and his guards recognized him as such, they would have to be killed. Although the kor-dom had no qualms in doing so, unnecessary killing was not the way of the leadership castes. Such was the purview of the warrior caste and was the sole reason they still existed within the empire.
The kor-dom turned slightly, speaking instructions to his men in Jung. The nearest soldier stared at his leader, uncertain at first, but heeding his leader’s orders nonetheless.
In pairs of two, the kor-dom’s guards peeled off, marching back to the vehicles that had brought them. The last two took their steps backward, carefully retreating to join their comrades, all the while keeping their eyes on their leader.
The kor-dom looked at the hooded man again. “I have done as you asked. Now reveal yourself.”
“Step closer,” Nathan instructed as he slowly removed his hood.
Kor-Dom Borrol’s eyes widened in disbelief. It was the same face he had seen every day of the young man’s trial those many years ago. The same youthful features, the same friendly eyes that nearly changed his mind about the murderous criminal’s sentence. “My God!” he exclaimed under his breath as he slowly moved closer. “How can this be?”
“I can explain, but we must move inside,” Nathan told him.
“Can we not speak here?” the kor-dom suggested. “Those men are the only ones in the area, and I trust them all.”
“Do you?” Nathan challenged. “And do your people not have the ability to surveil one from great distances?”
“We do, but…”
“Do you trust the leaders of all your castes?” Nathan asked. “The Jung-Torret? The Dais? Or how about the Jung-Mogan? Or the Dusahn?”
<
br /> “Your intelligence is flawed,” the kor-dom replied. “The Dusahn caste no longer exists.”
“Oh, they exist,” Nathan corrected. “In fact, they are the reason you are at war. That is why I am here. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
Kor-Dom Borrol studied Nathan’s face, looking for something that would belie his words. He saw nothing. Furthermore, the young man was correct. The longer the two of them stood on this hilltop, the more likely a spy for a rival caste, or even an independent contractor seeking to gain favor, would discover and witness their exchange. The smart move was to accept the invitation.
Kor-Dom Borrol sighed. “Very well, lead the way.”
Nathan pulled his hood back over his head and turned around, heading up the ramp.
Kor-Dom Borrol followed, his eyes wide, taking in every little detail of the ship as he ascended the ramp. Should he return safely, what he witnessed this day might prove invaluable. Should he not return, his loss would seal his world’s fate. The Tonba-Hon-Venar would continue, but with more dedication and passion than ever. That passion would ensure the survival of his people, despite the hardships they would have to endure once the war concluded. Whether he turned martyr or hero this day, Kor-Dom Jung-Borrol would become a legend in the history of his people.
Nathan reached the utility bay’s forward hatch and turned to face the kor-dom as he approached the top of the ramp. As the Ghatazhak who followed breached the hull line on their way in, he nodded to Jessica.
Jessica activated the pressure shield.
Kor-Dom Borrol spun around, hearing the sudden hum of the pressure shield behind him as it activated. “What is this!” he demanded.
“Now,” Nathan instructed.
The shields outside dropped as a blue-white flash filled the utility bay, temporarily blinding the kor-dom. Jessica immediately activated the ramp again, causing it to begin its close cycle.
“Hang on!” Josh warned over the intercom.
The ship began to rumble as both nacelles spun up power. The floor beneath their feet shifted slightly as they began to accelerate, the ship’s inertial dampening systems not yet having reached full power.
“What has happened!” the kor-dom demanded, rubbing his eyes and blinking in an effort to recover his vision more quickly.
“No harm will come to you,” Nathan promised. “Report, Josh!”
“We made it to orbit!” Josh exclaimed. “We brought a ton of Jung dirt with us!”
Kor-Dom Borrol turned around to look aft, his eyesight returning. The ramp had already passed the halfway point, continuing to close, but he could clearly see the stars, and the edge of his planet just before it disappeared behind the ascending ramp. “What have you done!”
The blue-white flash returned, albeit more subdued now that the ramp was nearly closed.
“I apologize, Kor-Dom Borrol,” Nathan said, removing his hood again. “I needed more time with you, more than I felt was safe to spend on the surface of your world. I promise that you will be returned to your people unharmed.”
“This is an act of war!” the kor-dom insisted. “One that will not be forgiven!”
“Fine,” Nathan agreed, removing his long-coat and tossing it aside. “Your people can attack mine after you’ve destroyed Earth, assuming you have any ships left.” Nathan walked over to the counter and picked up the data pad he had brought in with him earlier. He then offered it to Kor-Dom Borrol. “Study this at length, and then we will speak.”
Kor-Dom Borrol hesitated a moment, then took the data pad from him. “What is it?”
“It is everything you need to know in order to decide whether or not to accept our offer.”
The kor-dom flashed through the first few pages. “This will take some time,” he said. “My people will be looking for you. Once they find you…”
“Trust me, they won’t find us,” Nathan assured him.
The kor-dom looked around. “You have nowhere more comfortable?”
“We do,” Nathan replied. “Please follow me.”
Kor-Dom Borrol followed Nathan out the forward hatch of the utility bay.
“Two guards on him at all times,” Jessica told Kit, “and don’t underestimate the old fart.”
* * *
Loki woke suddenly. The first thing he noticed was that he felt no pain, not even from the injuries sustained in his crash. The second thing he noticed was that he was alone.
He sat up slowly, unsure of himself. His head seemed to spin, but settled down a few seconds later. He was in a room about four by five meters. Besides the bed on which he sat was a small table with two chairs, a sitting chair with a side table, and a kitchenette. There were also three doors and a window.
Loki rose and made his way to the first door. It was locked from the outside. The next door was a closet, and the third led to a bathroom. He then went to the window, pulling back the curtain to look outside. Below was a street that had been freshly scraped of snow, much of which was piled along the sides of the boulevard. There were buildings in all directions, with snow-covered mountains beyond. The window was also locked. Even if he could open it, the drop to the surface was more than his body could handle in his current state. He was still a prisoner. The question was: of whom?
He had been told that he was being given to the insurgents seeking to overthrow Admiral Galiardi. However, his experiences thus far didn’t seem to support this. If his current captors were the insurgents, he was no safer with them than he had been with Udo. Perhaps even less so.
There was a remote on the table, but he saw no device that it might control. He went over and picked it up, pressing the power button. To his surprise, the painting hanging on the one bare wall disappeared, replaced by a live media feed.
Loki pressed another set of buttons, changing the programs displayed. Eventually settling on what appeared to be a news program, he stopped. The string of vid-footage clips being shown appeared to be from battles between ground forces of the Sol Alliance and the Jung, and in every clip, the Jung appeared to be losing…badly.
* * *
Kor-Dom Borrol had been sitting in the Voss’s common room for nearly half an hour, reviewing the files on the data pad Nathan had given him. During this time, Nathan had waited patiently, making himself available should the Jung leader have any questions. Surprisingly, the elder man had none.
Finally, the kor-dom placed the data pad on the table in front of him, looking at Nathan. “Interesting read,” he declared. “Very well presented.”
It was not the reaction Nathan had expected.
“I am supposed to believe this?” the kor-dom questioned, motioning at the data pad. “All without evidence?”
“The fact that I’m willing to risk everything by returning to Nor-Patri should tell you something,” Nathan insisted.
“It tells me that you want something bad enough to risk your life and the lives of your crew to obtain it,” the kor-dom explained. “That is all that it tells me.”
Nathan rose from his seat. “I guess we should return you to Nor-Patri then,” he stated, turning to head forward.
“Assume for a moment that I believe what you have shown me,” the kor-dom said. “Why is it that you were able to determine it was a false-flag operation, and the Sol Alliance, who has far more resources at their disposal, could not?”
“I believe that they do know,” Nathan told him. “I believe that Admiral Galiardi is using it as a pretext to an all-out war against the empire.”
“To what end?” the kor-dom wondered.
“Revenge, a means to power, both. I can’t be sure.”
“Can you even be certain that he does know that it is not us?”
“Given the evidence, I believe so,” Nathan replied, pointing at the data pad.
“That will not be enough to convince the leaders of the warrior castes,” Ko
r-Dom Borrol warned. “They will claim that it was fabricated by Sol Alliance intelligence to destroy public support for the Tonba-Hon-Venar. At the moment, I would be likely to agree with that assessment.”
“If that is the case, then why are we even having this hypothetical discussion?” Nathan wondered.
“Because there is one other thing which I am curious about,” the kor-dom explained. “Why are you here?”
“Lord Dusahn has threatened to destroy Takara if we attempt to invade,” Nathan explained. “He even destroyed a world to prove that he could, sacrificing millions needlessly.”
“Ah yes, the chekta.”
“What is the chekta?” Nathan wondered.
“The chekta is a ferocious, serpent-like creature that lives in the marshlands of Nor-Patri. When two male chektas fight, the loser will often drive its venomous fangs into the victor. The venom then causes the victor to clamp down even tighter, guaranteeing the death of both. The chekta protocol is the idea that one can still die as the victor by denying his attacker the prize they sought. It is considered the only way to die victoriously in the face of certain defeat. To the Jung warrior, victory is all that matters.”
“Then you believe he is not bluffing,” Nathan surmised.
“I am certain of it,” Kor-Dom Borrol replied. “But that is not the reason you came to speak with me.”
“I intend to challenge Lord Dusahn to a fight to the death,” Nathan told him. “For the control of Takara.”
“And what makes you believe he would accept this challenge?”
“I was hoping that if I broadcast my challenge to the people of Takara, including his own men, that his ego would not allow him to refuse,” Nathan explained.
“Men do not become leaders of empires by acting foolishly,” Kor-Dom Borrol replied. “The Dusahn leader is indeed a proud man, as are all members of warrior castes. However, he is not stupid. In fact, his own people would consider him unfit to lead should he accept such a challenge without any legal precedent to do so.”