Deathangel

by Kevin Ikenberry

  * * *

  Victoria Gate

  Victoria System LaGrange Point 2

  Bukk emitted a noise Xander had never heard from an Altar. He whipped around to look at the taller alien and saw his antennae bobbing rapidly in excitement.

  “Who’s Tirr? Is this a good thing?”

  “Yes, it is. Tirr is a friend of Peacemaker Jessica Francis,” Bukk replied. “We can stand down defensive weapons, gate master. The enemy ship is lost with all hands.”

  “A tragic accident,” The gate master replied with a solemn, but strangely mocking, tone. Xander’s face registered his confusion.

  “I’m sure you will record it this way, Honored Ella’Chi,” Bukk said. He glanced at Xander and flicked one antenna in the Altar approximation of a wink.

  There was a joke involved, but Xander didn’t get it. His headset clicked.

  <>

  The speaker snapped on again. “Victoria Gate, this is Lieutenant Colonel Tirr of the MinSha in command of two support vessels for Victoria Forces. I cannot reach the provincial governor on the established frequencies. Can you put me in contact with him or a representative of Force Two Five, please?”

  Bukk touched the transmit button. “Honored Tirr, this is Bukk, Executive Officer of Force Two Five. Do you read?”

  “Bukk, well met. I show your position at the gate?”

  “Affirmative. I have Victory Twelve on station and am preparing to depart for reconsolidation with the headquarters element.”

  Xander blinked. Something sounded off. Bukk’s monotone speech didn’t fit. He said nothing but watched Bukk nod at the gate master for an unspoken permission. The gate master replied in kind, saying nothing.

  “Tirr, you are cleared to approach and dock with the gate. We will meet you on arrival and depart for the surface.”

  “Affirmative, Bukk. Please relay my compliments to the gate master and your crew. I will meet you shortly.”

  Bukk rose to his full height and turned to the gate master. “Honored Ella’Chi. Thank you for your assistance. We will leave you to the administration of your gate.”

  “The pleasure is mine, Honored Bukk of Force Two Five.” The Sumatozou bent forward at his chubby waist in an awkward bow. “The gate will remain open for business. We are expecting vessels from several guilds to enter the system for official negotiations within the next 72 hours.”

  “As we were aware,” Bukk replied. “Would you be so kind as to alert me should anything out of the ordinary approach?”

  “Most certainly. When you re-establish contact with Governor Watson, I trust you’ll do the same?”

  Bulk bowed equally awkwardly. “Assuredly. Well met, gate master.”

  “Well met, Honored Bukk.” The Sumatozou added something in his own language, something the translator did not communicate. Bukk touched his carapace with his left hand in salute, and they walked out of the gate control center without a word.

  As they passed through the outer office, they still said nothing. The exited through the outer door to the main corridor and descended the central spiral staircase. Bukk lowered his head slightly. “Keep walking.”

  From the central corridor, they turned into a docking ring and made their way toward Victory Twelve’s berth. A small food vendor stood to one side of the passageway, and while Xander didn’t recognize the food the Selroth was cooking, the smell was tantalizing enough to make his mouth water. He was distracted for a moment, and he almost yelped when Bukk took his arm and stepped into an open doorway.

  “I know you have questions, Xander.” Bukk’s voice was low and firm. “There are many nuances to life out here. As a Human, especially one without a mercenary upbringing, most of them are lost on you. The best advice I can give you is to remain honest in your interactions. While the ruse you wanted to try might have worked, the honest approach worked better. That may seem odd to you, but the guilds usually require honesty in all matters. Deception is frowned upon and often seen through quickly. We have some time, and I want to make sure your questions are answered before we meet Tirr and embark upon whatever the next phase of this mission will be.”

  Xander nodded. “Why did you salute him?”

  Bukk’s antennae rippled in surprise. “You’re not curious about what the gate master will report? Or why Tirr’s arrival did not seem to surprise him?”

  “I understand it’s in his best interest to report what happened as an accident. If it was sabotage, or something nefarious within the unit, it would show a weakness which could bring more unwanted attention from Peepo and the Mercenary Guild,” Xander replied. “The other ship’s commander knew that, and their escape was calculated. When it comes to the Peacemaker Guild, nothing surprises me. They want us to find Snowman, but they figured out someone was watching us long before we did. The attack at D’nart? We were the target. We show up here, and the enemy comes after us? Not coincidental.”

  “And the Cochkala?” Bukk leaned down. “Why were they here?”

  “Again, we were being watched. Someone believed we would come here because it is one of the last Human-centric planets that hasn’t been successfully attacked. It’s a festering sore for Peepo. So, she went after it. She, or one of her minions, planted a unit here to wait for us. Once we arrived, she alerted the cavalry and waited.”

  Bukk nodded. “I believe you are only partially correct. Victoria is certainly, as you put it, a sore for the Mercenary Guild. However, the Cochkala were clearly here not simply as an advance party for the attack we repelled—they had another mission entirely. There was a timing factor—the arrival of the additional ships was timed to hit us and keep us occupied. But the Cochkala were used improperly.”

  “They were a distraction.” Xander squinted.

  “No. Regaa intended to drop additional infantry forces, and they did. I do not believe Regaa knew the full parameters of the Cochkala mission, or she would have used them differently,” Bukk replied. “They were after something else. Once we know what that was, the rest of the picture will come together.”

  “And you don’t think we’re out of the woods, yet. So, to speak.”

  “I am unfamiliar with that euphemism, but I believe it means we are not out of danger.”

  “That’s it.” Xander smiled.

  “I think we’re out of immediate danger, Xander. But I’m concerned greatly for the future,” Bukk said. “Someone knows a lot more about this situation than we do. And so does the Peacemaker Guild.”

  “We need answers.” Xander nodded.

  “Answers come to those who seek them, Xander. What we need is a vector and a clear flight path without followers. That may be what Tirr intends.”

  “Which sounds like the first answer we need.”

  “True,” Bukk replied.

  “What did the gate master say to you?”

  Bukk looked up and away for a moment. “It’s not easy to explain, Xander. The Altar have a…saying, that one should stay in their tunnel and not seek the light unless necessary. What the gate master said translates into Altar as Lightbringer. For an Altar, it means something difficult to explain. You would equate it to a messiah figure—leading their people in a different direction. An Altar male cannot lead the colony. But a Lightbringer shapes the colony and helps lead it. To be so called is a sign of incredible respect, and I am not certain I deserve such an accolade. At least not yet.”

  “Why not?”

  Bukk laughed. “My friend, I left Altar to repay the debt of a colony to Jessica. Her father brought me onto his crew, and I learned a great deal about life in the galaxy in a very short time. I learned enough to know we have to find him not because of what he has, but because of what he knows.”


  Xander was about to answer when a flurry of chimes sounded over the gate’s loudspeakers. As they echoed down the passageways, he thought they sounded like a herald of trumpets. When the gate master spoke, he realized why.

  “Priority arrivals in forty minutes at Executive Docking collar. Representatives of the Cartography, Information, and Merchant Guilds are arriving on the transport Mystic Dawn. Initiate readiness protocols at this time on all levels and spaces. We will welcome our guests accordingly. Dispatch the executive shuttle to the surface immediately and retrieve Governor Watson. The negotiation period has begun.”

  “What’s that last part mean?” Xander asked.

  Bukk made a sound like a Human snort. “It means Victoria Forces just stood down, for better or for worse.”

  “You think there’s another attack coming?”

  “Worse,” Bukk said. “Politicians.”

  * * * * *

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Victoria Forces Headquarters

  Victoria Bravo

  Mako One Three touched down directly across from the gate into the Victoria Forces cantonment area. A squad of armed infantry rose up from behind makeshift barricades with their weapons trained on the rear deck as it opened. The young medic stepped out into the sun and waved to the infantry for assistance. The soldiers on the far side of the barrier made no move.

  Tara watched Doc get into position at the head of Vannix’s stretcher. He jerked his head toward the wounded Peacemaker’s feet. “You mind helping?”

  She stepped around to the foot of the stretcher and grabbed the handholds. Vannix lay completely still. Aside from the faintest movement of her chest, she appeared dead. Doc had administered a battlefield stasis serum, effectively placing her into a medical coma and slowing down her biological functions a staggering 80 percent. It was the closest thing to hibernation they had, and Tara was grateful they had it and that the kid they called Doc could calculate the correct dosage for a Veetanho while under fire.

  “Ready?” Doc asked. “We’ll lift her on three. One, two, three.”

  Tara lifted as directed, and they shuffled out of the rear door. They’d moved about a meter down the ramp when a voice yelled, “Halt!”

  Doc looked over his left shoulder. “Oh for fuck’s sake, Smitty! It’s me!”

  “Yeah, Sergeant,” Tara heard one of them say. “That’s Doc and the wounded Peacemaker.”

  There was silence for about five seconds. Tara wondered which of them would fire out of fear or be the voice of reason. The same voice that questioned Sergeant Smith called out again, “Weapons down. Secure the Peacemaker.”

  Smith lowered his rifle and tried to salvage his reputation. “Let’s go, people. Good call, Clark.”

  Good call, my ass. Tara wanted to smile. They started walking again. As they neared the barricade, four soldiers took their places on the corners of the litter. Doc slung his medical bag around Vannix’s waist and started triaging her wounds as they moved. Tara slowed and stopped, watching them go. The kid had Vannix’s condition under control.

  Sudden tears came to her eyes. As Tara wiped them away with the back of her left hand, she saw a familiar face watching her. She moved toward Governor Watson. The bald man’s face was haggard and slack, and she saw a sheen of perspiration on his forehead and fear in his eyes, but he stood his ground. Tara closed to within a meter of him, crossed her arms across her chest, and stared.

  “Mind telling me what happened out there?”

  “I thought we were being flanked. There was movement on my oblique, and I engaged what I thought was the target and wounded Peacemaker Vannix,” Watson said and wiped his face with his shaking hands. “I have never done anything like that before.”

  Tara kept her face still. “You haven’t been on a practice range since the initial defense, is that right?”

  “Yes,” Watson nodded. “My duties as governor have taken my time and my—”

  “Don’t give me that shit.”

  Watson snapped his mouth shut. He quickly regained his composure. “Combat skills are perishable. I haven’t practiced enough in recent weeks to expect—”

  “You’ve been setting up a negotiation that warrants losing your security forces. It allows you to hang up your rifle and wear nice clothes without fear of going to war again because you’re afraid you won’t be able to handle another one. You panicked. Faced with what you thought was a flanking maneuver, you failed to verify your target and gain situational awareness. You shot a Peacemaker in the performance of her duties. Should she wish, Vannix has the authority and right to press charges against you, Watson.”

  Watson’s mouth curled under at both corners. “I am sorry for what happened.”

  “And I’m sorry you’ve been so busy trying to end your need for defense that you forgot how to do just that.” Tara fumed. “Rest assured, Governor, if I determine your accidental engagement of a Peacemaker was anything but, stepping into Galactic Union politics will be the second worst decision you’ve ever made.”

  “You think I made a mistake in attempting to establish a commercial zone.”

  “I do,” Tara said. “You think you can operate on the same level as these folks, Watson. You can’t. They’ve played you like a harp, and you know it. Losing your force, or trading them in for security forces, takes away the one advantage you had. I know the credits were good, but tactically, you’ve given them this world and all of its resources.”

  “I’ve ensured this planet will have a rich future,” Watson sputtered. “I’ve worked my ass off for this chance at peace and prosperity!”

  “If there’s a Human left on this planet in five years, I’ll be surprised,” Tara said. Seeing the reaction on the governor’s face, she added, “So will you.”

  “I did what I thought was best.” Watson’s shoulders slumped forward.

  “Yeah? For you or your pocketbook?” Tara felt her anger rising, and she wanted to let it wash over her. The little man needed to be taught a lesson, and part of her ached to do just that.

  A loudspeaker above the guardhouse clicked on. “Governor Watson, Governor Watson. There is an urgent message for you on communications channel x-ray zero two. Please respond immediately.”

  Watson looked at Tara for a moment, then tapped his slate. To her surprise, he left the channel open so she could hear. “This is Governor Brian Watson. To whom am I speaking?”

  “Governor Watson, this is Senior Diplomat Advisor Heruul of the Merchant Guild. I bid you greetings and welcome you to negotiations for the Victoria Commercial Zone. Have you met all the clauses of the pre-negotiation document as requested?”

  “We have, Senior Diplomat Advisor Heruul, with the exception of the status of the Victoria Forces. You are certainly aware of our current situation and recovery operations?”

  “We have been made aware by the gate master,” Heruul replied. Tara thought his stilted diction was a put on—a show of diplomacy. There was little doubt in her mind he was a Buma. “We are authorized to give you an extension based upon your all-too-recent hostilities.”

  “Thank you, Honored Heruul. The citizens of Victoria Bravo appreciate this leniency.”

  “Very good, Governor Watson. We will need the complete standdown and disenrollment of all surviving Victoria Forces personnel, as well as the surrender of all equipment and materiel not claimed by standing agreement with another corporation. This must happen within the next thirty minutes.”

  Tara blinked in surprise. Forty-eight hours would have been my guess. Damn.

  Watson stared off into space. Words seemed to have failed him. He finally responded. “I understand, Heruul. I will contact you in thirty minutes or less.”

  “I require less, Governor Watson,” the Buma replied and clicked off the channel.

  Watson looked at her. Tara turned one side of her mouth under. “That was unexpected, I take it?”

  “Yeah.” Watson looked around. “They wanted Victoria Forces stood down on arrival. I should have exp
ected a minimal extension. They want Victoria to broaden their guilds, and they do not want me to have anything other than minimally-armed security forces. I have a few hundred troops remaining. Four hangars. Two dormitory compounds. A strongpoint and defense system in the west valley. A few CASPers and tanks. I’m supposed to find a way to disenroll all of it or negotiate the sale of it all with a third party in 30 minutes or less? If it can’t be done, this whole deal falls through. Everything I worked for...gone.”

  Tara looked around, and the gravity of the situation dawned on her. If the guilds departed and left the deal, his planet would be unable to defend itself from attackers, be they mercenary or other. Victoria’s only chance was to secure the deals, but that seemed impossible. She hadn’t thought about the facilities and infrastructure behind the Victoria Forces. There was no way anyone could come in and buy them from Watson in the next 30 minutes. For a moment, Tara wondered if there was a representative on one of the ships who would call Watson in twenty minutes with a ridiculous offer and sweep away the military power of the colony and subvert the government in one fell swoop. Even money, she decided. None of the guilds were to be trusted, and she’d even keep the Peacemakers at arm’s length until they ponied up the intelligence they hadn’t shared with Force Two Five. She snorted as a thought flashed through her brain and directly to her lips.

  “It’s too bad I don’t have the capital,” Tara said.

  Watson looked at her for a moment. “You’re a bounty hunter on assignment to the Peacemaker Guild, right? Not a Peacemaker?”

  She nodded. “Technically, a bounty hunter and a deputized agent, but not a Peacemaker. Right now, Force Two Five operates on private funds. We receive some benefits from the guild, like gate fees and the like, but all of our operating costs are our own.”

  “But a bounty hunter could be the head of a corporation,” Watson said. “All that would be required is a legal document establishing a corporation appropriately flagged as Victorian. The materiel and facilities of the Victoria Forces could be signed over immediately.”