The Margrave of Montora (The Chronicles of Montora Book 2)

by Ward Wagher

  “Correct, Major. The Tactical Officer will give the time hack for debarkation.”

  Higginbotham pushed the button to disconnect and leaned back in this chair. We'll get this one action out of the way and then head for home, he thought. It has been a good trip and profitable. Once we contact the hostages' families, we can expect additional cash beyond fencing the loot. It'll be a relief to be done. We've drawn down the crew for the prizes further than I think really wise.

  At the appointed time the shuttles burst forth from their bays and descended towards Cambridge.

  # # #

  The two shuttles were grounded on a sandy beach. The salt air and the sound of the waves lent an attractive background to the scene. The transportees were huddled in small groups in the brisk spring air. Franklin Nyman again stood on the loading ramp.

  “Here’s the deal,” he called. His throat mic amplified his voice over the shuttle’s external speakers and his voice boomed out.

  “We have set you down in a southern temperate zone. You are on the west coast of the continent called Parkland. You will have long growing seasons and relatively mild winters. However, you will need to get crops planted within the next several weeks.”

  “With what?” someone called.

  “We dropped cargo two hundred yards inland from the water’s edge. There are plenty of tools. We also left some building materials so you can get your women and little ones under shelter quickly. There is also enough food to last the season.”

  “There are some predators – mainly bears and big cats. Mostly they should leave you alone. A half-mile or so inland the grasslands begin, and they should work well for plowing. Because of the weather, I would suggest you not settle too close to the ocean.”

  “So you are telling us we gotta plow and plant for our own food?”

  “That’s precisely what I am suggesting. I can’t afford to feed you forever.”

  “You could have left us collecting the tolls.”

  “No,” Franklin said, “I can’t have you stealing from the Margraviate.”

  “How long are we here for?” one of the women called.

  Franklin looked at her. “You apparently did not listen well. This is your new home. It’s an opportunity to make something of yourselves. I am not just going to dump you here. We will check on you from time to time. We’ll be leaving a comm unit, so you can contact us in an emergency. For the time being, if you have any reasonable needs, we will try to supply you during our regular trips.”

  “Fair enough,” the woman said. She turned to the men. “Get off your fat can, Hercules. We got us some work to do.”

  “Oh, go do it yourself, you old bag,” Jones growled.

  The woman marched over to him and yelled at him. “Get up!”

  He looked at her with an insolent grin. She immediately wheeled back and kicked him in the crotch. The thud was clearly audible at the shuttle. Jones rolled over into a fetal position.

  Boodles, who was standing next to Franklin cringed. “Ouch. That’s twice today he’s had his bells rung. I wonder if he’ll learn.”

  “I don’t particularly care,” Nyman said. “Stupid is as stupid does, I guess.”

  “No argument, Franklin.”

  They looked up as Daphne walked over to their shuttle. Signe Foxworth walked with her.

  “Hello, Signe,” Franklin said. “Decided to join the party?”

  She nodded. “I’m officially representing the Duke’s interests today.”

  “Well, tell your father we appreciate his contribution to the colony. It really will help the planet if we get a productive group of people on this side of the planet.”

  “Those were his thoughts as well,” she said in her melodious contralto voice.

  “And unofficially?” he said.

  “I thought I’d go along to keep Daphne out of trouble.”

  Boodles choked and quickly turned away.

  “Did you succeed?” Franklin laughed.

  “Oh yes. We had no problems on our end of the project.”

  “I didn’t lay a hand on any of them,” Daphne said indignantly. “Just as you ordered, Mister Margrave, Sir!” she saluted.

  “Very good, Daphne.”

  “Unlike a certain representative of the duchy,” she continued.

  He quickly looked over at Signe, who was carefully looking elsewhere.

  “So you made Signe do the heavy lifting?”

  “No. One of the women got difficult and Signe decked her.”

  Boodles stepped further back into the shuttle. He could be heard snickering.

  “Well, well, well,” Franklin said. “I apologize, Daphne. I should have given the same instructions to Signe.”

  “Oh, give it a rest, Franklin!” Daphne said.

  “Major!” a voice called from inside the shuttle. Boodles walked forward to the front.

  “Thanks for your help, Signe,” Franklin said. “I suppose we need to liaise with the PM on how we want to handle any resupply.”

  “Daddy placed this project in my hands for as along as I’m on-planet, so we can get together and work out the plans.”

  Daphne stood behind Signe making a vicious face as she silently moved her lips, mocking the tall brunette.

  There is going to be trouble here sooner or later, Nyman thought.

  Boodles appeared at the back of the shuttle again. “Margrave, I need you.”

  “What’s going on, Major?”

  “Cambridge is under attack.”

  “What? What’s going on?”

  “Unknown yet. I’ve got the logistics people rolling out the quick reaction package for us. We can load up just as soon as we get back to Montora Village. That’s assuming you want us to intervene.”

  “Of course I do. Daphne! Get the other shuttle off the ground and back to the village PDQ. We’ll cover your lift off and be right behind you.”

  “Right!” She turned and ran hard to the other shuttle, with Signe close behind her.

  Franklin caught a glimpse of her from behind as she ran. She looks good. Why am I thinking about that? What are we going to do now?

  “Mount up, right now!” Boodles called. The regimental troops on the ground trotted towards the two shuttles as the turbines spooled up.

  chapter eight

  Franklin moved forward as the shuttle screamed for altitude. He buckled himself into his seat next to Boodles, who was talking on his headset.

  “Okay, Franklin, looks like a pirate raid. Not details as yet, but we think they’ve targeted the castle and the banks.”

  “Anybody talk to Nesmith?”

  “Sergeant Dancey called him. He’s got every available guard out.”

  “What do you think, Martin, can Alex hold’em off if they head for the village?”

  “Unknown. I don’t have any numbers as yet. I think if they tangle with Alex’s people and mine, they’ll know they’ve been kissed, though.”

  “We’ve got our pants down around our ankles, Martin.”

  “It’s not that bad, Margrave, but it’s not good, either. We train for this sort of thing. When we land at the village I need you and the girls off the shuttles. I can have the quick reaction team loaded and off again in under two minutes. I want the second shuttle to orbit the village until we find out if they’re coming after us as well.”

  “Understood. Let the other shuttle know that they have my permission to pitch the girls off the bird if they give any lip.”

  “Thank you, Margrave. I think Daphne can probably handle herself in a combat situation. I don’t know about the Foxworth girl.”

  “Daphne just thinks she’s a warrior,” Franklin said. She still hasn’t learned her limitations.”

  “Today is not the day for her to find out, either.”

  # # #

  The loading ramp flexed as the Baltic Regiment rolled their quick response equipment aboard. Franklin and Boodles stood at the base of the ramp.

  “Do you have a plan, Martin, or are you making
it up as you go along?”

  Boodles snorted. “A little of both. You need to get down to the village and make sure Alex is ready for anything. My people will cover the camp and the field.”

  “Right. Take care of yourself, Martin.”

  Boodles walked up the loading ramp with the last of the troops. Franklin turned as the ramp started to close with a whine. He walked over to where Daphne and Signe were standing next to one of the electric trucklets.

  “Now we head to the keep,” he said.

  “I need to get back to Cambridge. I need to know if Daddy and Mother are okay.”

  “Not now, Signe,” Franklin said. “If the projectiles aren’t flying yet, they soon will be.”

  “I don’t know what I would do if they were killed.”

  I would like to reassure her, but Glenn and Monica are probably number one on the pirates’ list for a shakedown.

  “There’s nothing we can do right now, Signe. And I need to be at the Keep.”

  The three climbed into the trucklet. He got it moving and floored the throttle.

  “Slow down, Franklin!” Daphne yelled. “We won’t do anybody any good if you kill us.”

  “I know what I’m doing.”

  The little electric vehicle lurched down the path from the shuttleport. The ride got smoother once they bounced onto the paved section of the road. They flew into the village, where Franklin slid to a stop next to where Father Riggs was standing in the square.

  “What’s going on, Margrave?” Riggs asked.

  “We might be getting a visit from pirates, Father. Get the women and children under cover. Tell Marple to get the tourists into shelter too. Get the men moving. Alex has been training them. They’ll know what to do.”

  Riggs started to say something, but Franklin accelerated away from him as rapidly as the trucklet would move. They rolled across the bridge over the Moody River and into the castle courtyard..

  Franklin jumped out as soon as he brought the vehicle to a halt and ran into the Keep.

  “Gerry, has Alex opened the armory?”

  “Yes, Margrave. Everyone is armed. Yours and Daphne’s are in your office.”

  “Thanks. Signe, do you know how to shoot?”

  “I’m qualified on a needle gun.”

  “Do we have one, Gerry?”

  “Yes, Margrave. I’ll go pull one from the armory for her.”

  “Thanks. Let’s go.”

  Franklin led the way to the office. He walked behind the desk and sat down.

  “Do you think they’ll come here, too?” Signe asked.

  “Depends on how much intel they have on the planet.”

  “If they had any intel on Hepplewhite, they wouldn’t have come here,” Daphne said. “Nobody here has a pot to pee in.”

  “That’s an elegant way to put it, I guess,” Franklin said.

  He started tapping and sliding his fingers on his computerized desktop. “Let me see if I can get a downlink from the shuttles. We might be able to see what’s going on.”

  “Can’t you just call Major Boodles?” Signe asked.

  “I don’t want to jog his elbow right now. He’s got plenty to worry about.”

  “Is he any good at what he does?” she asked.

  “Actually yes. He’s run a couple of ops since he brought the retirees here and did very well. Dad told me his biggest problem is lack of confidence. His background is Logistics, so he doesn’t feel qualified.”

  “So he’s actually a Rear Echelon Chair-Warmer?”

  “Pay attention to what the man is saying,” Daphne said sharply. “Boodles knows what he’s doing.”

  “Take it easy, Daff. Signe is doing exactly what she should be doing – asking questions rather than assuming.”

  “I’m going up on the allure,” Daphne said. She jumped up and left the room.

  Blakely walked back into the room carrying a needle gun and an ammo pack. “Here you go, Ms. Foxworth.”

  “Oh, thank-you Mr. Blakely.”

  “I suppose I should be checking the rest of the staff,” Blakely said. He walked out leaving Signe in the room with Franklin.

  Franklin continued studying his computer screen.

  “So what is Daphne’s problem?” Signe said suddenly. “She is unhappy with everything I do. I mean, I know I’m not that experienced yet, but I think I’m fairly good.”

  Franklin shook his head. “I don’t know if you would call her an Alpha Female or something, but she thinks she is running the show around here and looks at you as possible competition.”

  “That’s silly. I don’t want her job.”

  “Look at it from her perspective. Her background is military. Though she has taken business courses, most of her business experience was picked up in one administrative posting or another. She really is very good at what she does, but your training is specifically for the things she has had to pick up on her own.”

  “But I don’t intend to push her out. I’m just passing through.”

  “Once again, Signe, she sees an attractive, unattached female with an MBA. So the unattached Margrave gets attached to her and eventually Daphne gets pushed out of a job she loves.”

  “So is that your plan?” Signe looked at him speculatively.

  Franklin chuckled. “How many times have we met, three times; four? Who can say? But let’s be honest, if something like that happened, it would put Daphne in a difficult position. Her military background makes her identify and analyze threat situations. She does so out of habit. And she views you as a threat”

  Signe leaned back in her chair and contemplated what Franklin just said. She looked around the room as he continued to manipulate his desktop. Finally she looked directly at him.

  “Franklin, do you think I’m attractive?” Her voice took on a deeper huskier timbre.

  Franklin looked up as her stare bored into him. She had her father's size, but had Monica's dark complexion and voluptuousness. He found himself slightly breathless and he seemed to fall into her deep brown eyes. “Oh yes, I do.”

  He seemed to shake himself free of the spell. “As I said, we’ve only met a few times. Give it time, Signe. There is a lot going on right now and we need to make sure we avoid emotional entanglements caused by the stress of the moment.”

  “Do you really think that is the case here?”

  “To be honest, I've never met anyone like you. Aahh. Here comes the feed from the shuttles. We’ve got a drone up over the city now. Looks like one pirate shuttle on the ground and another one orbiting the area.”

  Signe moved over to look at the display, stepping close to Franklin. “This is our shuttle here?”

  “Yes, that’s Martin. The other shuttle is here.” He pointed to an icon near Montora Village on the tactical map.

  “Why isn’t Martin in closer?”

  “He’s trying to slip in without attracting attention. If they get him with a missile, it would ruin everybody’s day.”

  Daphne walked into the room followed by a heavy-set middle-aged woman in a Baltic Regimental Sergeant’s uniform. “Oh, the tactical is up? What’s going on?”

  The sergeant walked over to Signe and stuck out her hand. “I’m Sergeant Sarah Dancey. You can call me Sarah. Everyone else in here can call me by my first name.”

  “Sergeant?” Signe asked.

  “Right.”

  “What’s up, Sarge?” Franklin said.

  “I’m here to coordinate with our tactical group.”

  “Oh, very good. All quiet outside?”

  “So far,” Daphne said. “Father Riggs has everybody under cover, except for the armed men. Beddings is up on the allure with Alex. Uh oh, we just lost the feed from the Major’s shuttle.”

  Franklin began typing on the desktop. “It doesn’t look like the problem is here. I can’t reacquire.”

  Dancey whipped out her comm. “Base Tac, this is Outpost Beta. We’ve lost Possum One’s signal.”

  She listened for a moment. “Okay, they’ve l
ost it too. They grabbed control of the drone and are going back to his last location.”

  “I don’t have a good feeling about this,” Daphne said. “We shouldn’t have just lost the signal like that.”

  “I hope he didn’t eat a missile.” Franklin said.

  Dancey was listening to her comm. “Okay, they’ve got the Major back. They are on the ground. No casualties, but the shuttle is a write-off.”

  The video from the drone swung around and showed the Regimental combat shuttle on the ground in the midst of a group of trees. People were moving away from it rapidly.

  “Okay, that is not good,” Franklin said. “Unless they can take down the cover, they’ll get pinned down. Look here, the orbiting pirate shuttle is moving to where Martin went down.”

  The window on the desktop displaying the view over Cambridge dissolved into static.

  “They got the drone,” Dancey said.

  “Can the tac center vector another one in?” he said. “We need to know what’s going on.”

  “Yes, but if the pirates can take out a stealthed drone, they are not our run of the mill thugs,” Dancey said. “We don’t have that many drones.”

  “Daphne, put everyone on alert,” Franklin said. “We won’t have a lot of time to react. Sarge, are the non-combatants out of the camp? It’s got to be a prime target if they come over the mountain.”

  “Already taken care of, Margrave,” she said. “Are you set here?”

  “Between Daphne and Alex, I think we are about as ready as we can be.” Franklin manipulated his desktop some more. “Okay, you’ve got a drone up over the village. I won’t presume to give advice to your people, Sergeant, but it would be nice to preserve the drones and the other shuttle for as long as possible.”

  “The Tac Captain told the shuttle driver to put it on the ground away from here a bit. It’s unarmed, so it’s just a big fat target.”

  Dancey had the comm pasted to her ear. “Okay, Margrave, if you go to Tac Channel twenty-two, you will be able to pick up the manual map from the info we’re getting from the Major’s team.”

  “I hope his non-coms are as good as Smith & Jones,” Franklin said.