“Capstan has a Premier, and the election cycle is already underway. Voting is in two months.”
“Perfect, Margaret. That is just perfect. What do you say we leave the good people of Amberstrom to their duly elected and wholly unethical leader while we move on?”
“Capital idea,” the AI agreed.
A violin concerto filled the silence while the AI put the Pandora Express into the Gate queue.
Lindy wanted to get out of the mech suit. She was starting to sweat. They’d moved inside an abandoned building, where she was half hunched over.
“What do you think, Red?” Rivka asked.
“A diversion late at night; a snatch-and-grab, except it’ll be a drop-and-run. Then we wait to see if Ankh can find what you’re looking for.”
“You want to send Jay in there to place one of Ankh’s devices while we have their attention focused elsewhere? That sounds like the plan I was looking for. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it.”
“You feel the anger, don’t you?” Jay interjected.
“It’s there at the back of my mind.” Rivka’s face contorted as she confronted the emotions. “I can’t believe the power of their feelings.”
“Maybe that’s the norm for their society?” Red suggested.
“Regardless,” Rivka replied, shaking her head. “Two in the morning? Three in the morning?”
“Two. Lindy will light them up on the far corner, destroying the barricade in that area. I’ll provide supporting fire. Jay will wait until they start returning fire and then dodge in, get as far inside as she can, and drop a couple of the devices at opposite ends of the building.”
“What about me?”
“I can’t protect you while this is going on. You stay back and keep yourself from getting hurt. Lindy and I will retrograde in that direction, circle back, and everyone meets up here. The operation should take a grand total of ten minutes.”
I only have one question, Lindy asked. Can I get out of this fucking suit?
“Yes. I’ll handle the first watch, and then the Magistrate will take over so we can get our beauty sleep. Come two in the morning, we get into position and rock and roll.”
The mech had already powered down and unzipped the back. Lindy crawled out, stretching when she was free.
“There’s a limit to how long one can be in that thing, and I hit it an hour ago.” She staggered toward the back of the building to find the bathroom.
“Get some sleep. I’ll wake you when it’s your watch.” Red kneeled behind a front window where he could best see outside. Rivka and Jay found spots to lie down and wait.
Rivka pulled out her datapad and contacted Ankh.
“We will be dropping off your coins tonight. I hope this works.”
“If the equipment is operational and if the devices are close enough, I’ll be able to gain access to the data,” the Crenellian replied.
“That’s a lot of ifs.” Rivka felt less confident about their chances, but she saw no other plan. She couldn’t calm the Ledonians long enough to have any conversation, let alone a meaningful one. “Hold your position, and be ready to provide air cover if we need it.”
“Peacekeeper is on station at twenty-thousand meters. We can be there in seconds.”
“Thanks, Ankh.” Her datapad went dark as she signed off.
“No law to research, Magistrate?” Jay asked, laying her hand gently on Rivka’s shoulder.
“As much as I want this to be about the law, it isn’t. This is about establishing dominance. The one with the biggest stick will be in charge. Quoting the law in the middle of a civil war will get us all killed. Red is right. This is a mission. We’ll beat them senseless so we can gather the evidence.”
“Don’t tell Red that. He’ll get a big head.”
“His head is already the size of an August watermelon.”
The two women chuckled. “I don’t know what that is,” Jay admitted, “but it sounds funny.”
“Get some sleep. This could be over very soon. There’s nothing I’d like more than to see Leed’s Planet from our tail camera.”
Jay held the neutron pulse weapon in her hand. “Take it. I don’t want to use it.”
Rivka waved it away. “You’ll need it more than I will.”
“But I won’t use it. Once is enough, and I’m glad that I couldn’t see what it did to the people inside the tank.”
Rivka took the device, turning it over in her hand. It was still dialed to eleven. “We need to stop this war,” Rivka whispered.
“Brief me on Capstan, please,” Tod Mackestray said pleasantly. He laced his fingers behind his massive head and leaned back.
“Capstan is a minor planet in the Gridlow Expanse, eighty-seven light years from Amberstrom. Population of fifty million, mostly a humanoid race called the Verge, but other non-native species have a presence on the planet, including humans.”
“Pause. Did you just say Capstan natives are called virgins?” The Blokite started to laugh. His head remained perfectly still owing to his thick shoulders and lack of a neck.
“’The Verge’ is what they are called as a people. An individual member is a Verge.”
“You’re not making it any better.” Tod belly-laughed at his joke. “Pray continue, Margaret.”
“Capstan is a pure democracy, majority rules. It makes for a cumbersome and slowly responsive system since any issues that matter are put to a vote. The power vested in the leadership is that they determine what gets voted on. They can bury issues or make them relevant. They shape the message the voters hear.”
“That doesn’t sound very democratic, but it is perfect for what we do, don’t you think?”
“I think you will find fertile ground on Capstan.”
“Who is the best target?”
“The challenger, Benitus Fogg, who will lose unless he gets help. He is a wealthy landowner and businessman.”
“I like the sound of wealthy.”
“He is polling behind because the planet is sound, with a good economy and one of the best educational systems in the galaxy. Status quo suits them. Fogg is running his campaign on a change in focus from liberal arts to business.”
“Not everyone gets to be a rich businessman,” Mackestray claimed. “Start working up a campaign against the incumbent: shady dealings, personal degradation, a demeaning attitude toward whatever minority group is the most popular, and so on. You know the drill. When will we arrive?”
“To maintain our anonymity, we are routing through two additional Gates. We will arrive in no more than three days.”
“Do they have good food on Capstan?”
“Owing to the diverse nature of those coming from different planets for the education, Capstan has some of the best fine dining experiences in the galaxy.”
“That works nicely! Thank you, Margaret. I was going to ask for you to find a planet in between where I could get something good to eat, but I’ll wait. Get us to Capstan, and the first order of business, once we arrive, is the best meal on the planet!”
“I will arrange it, along with preparing a meeting schedule for your approval.”
The Blokite nodded. He accessed the background information Margaret had compiled and started reading. Leverage consisted of knowledge. He had three days to gain as much of it as possible.
Chapter Ten
“It’s time to get up.” Red shook Rivka until her eyes opened. She sat up and blinked at the glow surrounding Lindy as she climbed into the mech suit. It zipped behind her, and darkness returned.
“I’ll go with you,” she said as she stood.
“No.” Red was firm in his response. “We are a diversion and aren’t going to engage. If they try to chase us, we may have to hurt them. Outside of that, it’s all Jay on the smash-and-grab.”
“What if Jay gets caught?”
“How would that happen?”
“If she stops or someone accidentally opens a door in front of her. I don’t know, but something could happen.
Our luck sucks.”
One side of Red’s mouth twitched upward. “Aren’t we grumpy in the morning?”
“It’s the middle of the night.” Rivka nodded and slapped Red on the shoulder. “I’ll be waiting for you right here. Stay in touch, please!” She tapped the side of her head. She was as guilty as the others when it came to not using the comm chip.
Ankh, can you hear me? she asked.
Loud and clear, the Crenellian responded.
Me, too, Lindy added. Red nodded and gave the thumbs-up before turning his attention back to his railgun. He wore his goggles while he worked.
And me, Jay replied softly.
Right, Red said. Let’s do this.
Lindy opened the door and crouched, almost having to crawl through. Once outside, she stood up straight and cycled her systems. I wish the sensors were working. I’m operating on visual only.
Jay? Red asked.
I’m with you. Let’s do this and be done with it.
Rivka crossed her arms, worry lines creasing her face as she watched them go their separate ways, Jay to the right and Lindy and Red to the left, where they would loop around to the far side and attack the security perimeter.
It took the team ten minutes to get into place. No one had to announce the kick-off. That was obvious.
Is that what I think it is? Lindy asked.
Are you talking about the truck that looks to be filled with ammo crates? Nice catch, Red replied.
Lindy targeted it and activated one of her three remaining rockets. It screamed into the night sky, turning at its apex to arrow into the truck. Ledonians nearby started running before the rocket hit, and the spectacular explosion was blinding. While a great cloud billowed from the crater that marked the truck’s previous location, Lindy and Red opened up with their railguns, tearing up the pavement in front of the perimeter.
Return fire scattered outward.
Is there an opening? Red asked.
Heading in now. Jay’s voice sounded calm, but the comm chip regulated speech, keeping everyone’s tone even.
Red and Lindy moved to their first alternate firing positions before renewing their attack to keep the Ledonian defenders pinned down.
After a few seconds of intense fire, Red and Lindy moved to their secondary positions. After their third move, they would fire one last volley and run.
A tank fired, and the round tore through the building too close to Red. A second tank fired, and Red was thrown to the ground. He grunted from the impact of the debris.
Taking them out, Lindy reported. Two rockets launched from her suit.
They have me zeroed somehow. Red covered his head and waited. The explosions following the rockets’ impact were his signal to move. Jay, what’s your status?
Red jumped to his feet and ran to his final position. Lindy’s heavy footfalls echoed while he hunkered down and took aim.
The Ledonian rifle fire grew as they gathered their wits and reformed their line, having realized that they weren’t the target. Red wondered if they considered him and Lindy to be incompetent.
Status? Red requested again.
They locked me in a room on the ground floor. I don’t know if it was intentional, but I stopped to tuck the device under a desk, and the door clicked behind me. I’m stuck.
On my way, Rivka interrupted.
No, Magistrate, stay where you are! Red pleaded.
Overruling you on this one. I need you two to show them who’s boss. I’ve had enough, and if the only way we can stop the madness is by killing them all, then that’s what we’ll do.
Red switched to a direct channel with Lindy. She said that, but there’s no way she wants us to wipe them out.
What she meant was clear. Establish dominance. I’m out of rockets, but I’m not out of influence. I’m going to charge their lines. Don’t let a rocket surprise me. Or a tank.
She didn’t wait for Red to reply before she pounded toward the fortress. Rifle fire increased to a crescendo. Red’s gaze darted around the area, looking for any movement to signal the arrival of another tank or an overzealous defender with a rocket launcher. Machine guns burped from the towers.
Red took aim and eliminated the threats. In his mind, he had rationalized that a few had to die so most could live. A small vehicle appeared sporting a variety of antennas.
I think the people in charge have arrived. Stop that small armored car and hold it. Maybe a few hostages will convince the others to lay down their arms.
Lindy slammed into the outer barrier, using the suit’s power to toss an overturned car to the side as if it were a toy. She continued like a battering ram, destroying the barricade as she moved until she dodged to the side and sprinted to her target. She grabbed the rear bumper and picked it up, and the rear wheels spun helplessly in the air.
“Put your weapons down!” Lindy blared through the external speakers. She strobed the suit’s lights to blind the watchers, and Red saw the opening and ran. Lindy had disrupted their defenses so completely that even if someone noticed his approach, no one fired. He joined Lindy and waved his railgun at the driver.
“Turn it off, put it in Park, and get out.” The rear wheels stopped spinning and the engine shut off. Lindy put the vehicle down but maintained her grip. A stately-looking Ledonian climbed from the back seat, and an elder member of the planet’s military came from the passenger’s seat. The shorter Ledonians looked up at Red while keeping a wary eye on the mech.
“What do you want?” the civilian asked.
“When my boss arrives, I want you to answer her questions.”
Lindy made a quick circuit around the perimeter. Not everyone had put down their weapons, but no one dared shoot. Lindy took a rifle from one of the defenders and bent it in half before handing it back. “Be warned.” With a clatter, the rest of the weapons hit the ground.
Rivka jogged into the light, slowing to a walk. She nodded at Red and walked up to the one who looked in charge. “Who are you?”
“I’m the president of this world. Which invading terrorist are you?” he demanded with a wave of his arm.
Rivka slowly removed her credentials and shoved them into his face. “I’m Magistrate Rivka Anoa. I represent the Federation. It appears that you are running an unsanctioned war. Every death is on your head, so I’m going to have to take you in for a war crimes hearing.” She looked at the military leader. “And probably you, too.”
He made the mistake of reaching for her. She was in no mood. Rivka side-stepped, caught his arm, twisted it until the shoulder dislocated, and followed with a right hook that crushed his skull. He was dead before he hit the ground.
“You have been sentenced to death for your attempt to escape custody pending charges of war crimes. You have been judged. Paperwork to follow. Anyone else care to see how quickly Justice can ring across the land?”
The remaining Ledonians stood frozen. The rage at the back of her mind started to ebb. She wrapped her fingers around the Ledonian president’s arm, making sure she had a firm grip. “I came here to collect data regarding an individual I wish to question. His name is Tod Mackestray.”
Images of the Blokite flashed through the man’s mind.
“I see you’ve used his services.”
“I’ve never met any Tod Mackestray,” the president claimed weakly.
“This is going to take too long if you keep lying to me. How about you don’t say anything? I’ll rip what I want directly from your mind.” Rivka stared into his eyes. He tried to look away, but she grabbed his head as she doubled down on her bluff.
“Fine. I double-crossed him, and he did this.” The president pointed to the barricade and the soldiers standing around. Red flexed his ham-sized fists. Lindy continued around the perimeter, the rhythmic thumping of the mech’s feet keeping the defenders on edge.
“He didn’t make you angry. Where did that come from?” Rivka looked over her shoulder. “Go free Jay.”
Red nodded and waited. As soon as Lindy arrived,
he ran for the front door.
“Things have been on edge for the past couple of years. We’ve grown more fractured. I’m trying to bring us back together!” he claimed.
“Remember the part where I told you not to lie to me? I suspect your idea of bringing the people together was simply telling the other side to like whatever you were going to do.” Rivka shook her head. “Why did you need Mackestray’s help? You weren’t going to win the last election, were you?”
“The next election. I had to cancel them once the riots started, and I was forced to declare martial law.”
“None of this is your fault, according to you. According to me, all of this is your fault. You are guilty as sin.” Rivka loomed over the Ledonian. A shot rang out, and the round dinged off the vehicle next to the Magistrate. Lindy opened up with her railgun. Three hypervelocity darts later, only a brown puddle remained where a soldier had stood.
“I’m going to need you to do a few things...” Rivka began, then saw movement out of the corner of her eye—Red and Jay emerging from the building.
I am accessing the Ledonian systems now, Ankh reported.
“I want this to be over as much as you do,” the president said smoothly. Rivka backhanded him across the face.
“If you had wanted that, it would have already been done.” She let go of him. “Get on the comm or whatever passes for communication on this ass-backward planet and tell everyone the war is over!”
“I can’t do that. It’ll take a declaration of the council...”
“Are you trying to out-lawyer me with bullshit? I’m the Queen’s Barrister, and I have had about enough of you. Your obstructionism in order to continue your illegal war is punishable by death. What are your final words?”
“Wait!” The president dropped to his knees and started crying. Rivka picked him up by the back of his collar and slammed him face-first into the armored vehicle. “Get on the comm and convince everyone that the war is over. Peace talks are underway, so no one is to kill anyone else. You had best lie better to them than you lied to me or I’ll remove you and keep going down the line until I find someone who is convincing. How about that?”
Judge, Jury, & Executioner Boxed Set Page 66