by Timothy Zahn
Ghushtre was staring at her in disbelief. Jody shook her head quickly, lifted a finger to her lips. His eyes narrowed, but he nodded.
“What do you suggest?” Tamu asked cautiously, apparently just as surprised as Ghushtre.
“We bring His Excellency and his entourage aboard and fly them to Aventine,” Jody said. “He and Santores have a chat, and when they’re done you bring him back. Nice, neat, and no one gets hurt.”
“If he refuses?”
“I think I can persuade him,” Jody said. “He doesn’t want bloodshed any more than the rest of us do. Get me an open channel to the Government Building and let me talk to him.”
There was a short pause. “One moment,” Tamu said.
Abruptly, an odd hum filled the air. “What are you doing?” Ghushtre murmured.
Jody frowned; and then the humming sound clicked. It was the special Cobra sonic frequency designed for suppressing bugs and other listening and recording devices. Ghushtre was making sure Tamu wouldn’t be eavesdropping on their conversation. “Tamu’s threatened to starting shooting at Stronghold,” she murmured back. “But he hasn’t fired up his engines—if he had, we’d hear them. The only explanation for why he hasn’t is that he can’t.”
“We’ve done no damage to any major equipment,” Ghushtre said, frowning.
“I think the equipment is fine,” Jody said. “It’s the people who aren’t in position. Tamu may have gotten himself and his gunners behind locked doors, but either the pilots or the engine room crew didn’t make it to their stations before he locked everything down.”
Ghushtre peered down the corridor toward the engine room door. “You suggest we stunned them when we were neutralizing the personnel on this deck?”
“Or else Tamu panicked and locked the doors before they could get there,” Jody said. “Were you poking around upstairs earlier?”
Ghushtre nodded. “We retrieved our combat suits immediately after escaping our cell. Commander Tamu wasn’t in his cabin at the time.”
“Then that’s probably what happened,” Jody said, nodding. “He returned to his cabin after you got the suits, realized you were loose, ducked into whatever this CoNCH thing is—probably the command room—and hit the panic button. Maybe literally.”
“And he can’t open it again because he fears an ambush.”
“Because he doesn’t know exactly where all of you are,” Jody confirmed. “If I’m right, we should be able to use all this against him. Did your combat suits include the usual sleep-gas canisters?”
“Yes,” Ghushtre said. “But if the control and engine doors are properly sealed, the gas won’t be able to enter.”
“We don’t need it to,” Jody said. “I’m hoping I can get Tamu to open up the door.”
Ghushtre’s eyes were steady on her. “Using His Excellency as bait?”
Jody’s mouth suddenly felt dry. Qasaman loyalty was right up there with Qasaman ingenuity and dedication, and even suggesting the idea of a hint of betrayal could be an extremely unhealthy thing for her to do. “I think it’s the only way, Ifrit Ghushtre,” she said as calmly as she could. “You have to trust me.”
“I trust you with my life, Jody Moreau,” Ghushtre said. “I’m not sure I trust you with His Excellency’s life.”
There was click from the speaker. “Broom? Are you still there.”
The hum of Ghushtre’s sonic disappeared. “I’m here, Commander,” Jody said. “You have a connection?”
There was another click— “Ms. Broom, this is Governor Uy,” Uy said, his heavy formal tone showing he knew Tamu was listening in. “I understand you have a proposal for us?”
“I’m just trying to avoid bloodshed,” Jody said, acutely aware of Ghushtre standing close behind her. “I thought that if Shahni Omnathi and his people were willing to go to Aventine and talk with Commodore Santores, this whole standoff thing could end here and now.”
There was a short pause. “You really think that’s a good idea?” Uy asked.
“I think it’s the only way,” Jody said. “Commander Tamu has everything locked up tight, and he’s threatening to fly over Stronghold and take potshots at anything that moves.”
“Is he, now,” Uy said, and Jody could sense fresh interest beneath the formal tone. “Do I have to remind him that such action would constitute an act of war?”
“There’s no such thing as war between member worlds of the Dominion of Man,” Tamu put in. “It’s a legal impossibility. All the law allows for is rebellion and corrective action.”
“My mistake,” Uy said stiffly. “Tell me, Commander: if His Excellency agreed to accompany you, what guarantees would you offer for his safe conduct to Aventine and his subsequent safe return?”
Jody felt her heartbeat pick up. The fact that Uy was even suggesting he might hand over Omnathi was proof that he’d caught her hint, confirmed the Squire’s lack of engine emissions, and had come to the same conclusion she had.
“As a foreign head of state, he’s entitled to full diplomatic protection,” Tamu said, so sincerely that Jody almost believed him. “I also give you my personal pledge that he’ll be returned safely to Caelian, or anywhere else he wishes to go.”
“Such as Qasama?”
“Anywhere he wishes to go,” Tamu repeated. “The Squire is completely at his disposal.”
“Good to hear,” Uy said. “And Jody Broom?”
“She can accompany Shahni Omnathi to Aventine or stay here on Caelian,” Tamu said. “Her choice.”
There was another moment of silence. Uy consulting with Harli and the other Cobras? Possibly with Omnathi himself? “If His Excellency was willing, what procedure would you wish to follow?” Uy asked.
“I have four Marines still in Stronghold,” Tamu said. “They could meet Shahni Omnathi and his entourage at the door of the Government Building and escort them here to the Squire. Once they’re aboard, Ms. Broom will be allowed to leave if she chooses.”
“I presume that by escort him here you mean they would fly together in an aircar?”
“I could certainly send an aircar for him,” Tamu agreed. “I don’t trust my Marines in one of yours, of course. Confined spaces, limited fields of fire—I’m sure you understand.”
“I understand only that I have no intention of letting His Excellency simply disappear into an aircar niche inside your ship before Ms. Broom has the opportunity to leave,” Uy countered. “You can send your aircar, but it will stop at least fifty meters from your ramp, and Ms. Broom and Shahni Omnathi will emerge into the open at the same time. They’ll cross in plain sight of all of us, and then she can choose whether or not to return to the ship and travel with him to Aventine.”
Jody clenched her teeth. Uy and Omnathi had deduced her plan, all right.
Except they’d only deduced half of it. They’d figured out that she was planning to use the sleep-gas canisters on Omnathi and the Marines, but they were assuming she herself would be the one to set them off.
And that half by itself would be disastrous. Gassing everyone that far away from the Squire’s hatch would undoubtedly leave the party still in range of the ship’s gunbays. With Ghushtre and his companions still on the loose inside the ship, the situation would once again settle into a stalemate.
Except that the stalemate would now include Omnathi lying helpless in Tamu’s sights.
And she couldn’t warn Uy about the gunbays. Not without tipping off Tamu that she had something devious in mind.
“That would be acceptable,” Tamu was saying. “I presume Cobra Ghushtre and his men will wish to remain aboard.”
“That will be a decision for His Excellency.”
“Of course,” Tamu said. “I merely mention that because if they remain aboard there will have to be safeguards against mischief on their part. But the details can be discussed once Shahni Omnathi is aboard.”
“His Excellency is, as you say, a foreign dignitary,” Uy said. “How large an entourage would you be prepared to host?”
“As large as he wishes to bring,” Tamu said. “It’s only a day’s journey to Aventine, after all. Of course, any additional Djinn or Cobras would have to submit to the same safeguards I’ve already mentioned.”
“Such safeguards including constant surveillance by your Marines?”
“That’s one option,” Tamu said. “But again, it’s only a single day’s journey. Surely men trained to war will be able to put up with a few minor inconveniences for so short a time.”
“Very well,” Uy said. “Give me a moment to discuss this with His Excellency. I’ll return shortly with his reply.”
And almost too late, Jody had the answer. Maybe. “And please remind His Excellency that he needs to bring his translator along,” she spoke up as casually as she could. “There may be subtleties of Anglic during his conversations that he’ll miss but that she’ll catch.”
She held her breath, feeling Ghushtre’s frown on the back of her neck. As far as she knew, Rashida Vil was the only Qasaman woman on Caelian. If Uy and Omnathi picked up on the hint and were able to follow Jody’s logic…
“His Excellency will of course bring her along,” Uy said, his voice carrying the patient stiffness of someone who’s just been lectured on the obvious. “A moment, if you please.”
The speaker went silent, and the hum of Ghushtre’s sonic once again tickled at Jody’s ears. “What is your plan?” he asked quietly. “Why do you require Rashida Vil?”
Jody felt her stomach tighten, his comment about trusting her with his life flashing to mind. “The only way for Shahni Omnathi to be truly safe is to get him off Caelian and back to Qasama,” she said. “That means we need a ship, and this is the only one available.”
“You plan to seize control,” Ghushtre murmured. His forehead was wrinkled in thought, but his voice was calm enough.
“Yes,” Jody said. “The problem is the gunbays. If they’re as secure as Tamu says, we’re not going to be able to get in there quickly and knock them out. We’ll only be able to get one more group inside before they realize what we’re doing and lock down all approaches to the ship. That’s why we need Rashida Vil to come aboard now, along with His Excellency.”
“Understood,” Ghushtre said. “Tell me your plan.”
“Tamu’s not going to open his command room until he knows exactly where all three of you are,” Jody said. “I’m guessing Tamu will try to get all of you to meet the aircar, and that he’s already instructed the Marines to signal him when they can see all three of you in the entryway. I’m also guessing that Tamu will want to lift off as soon as possible once His Excellency is aboard.”
“Which means he’ll open the door for his pilot as soon as he knows it’s safe.”
“Exactly.” Jody gestured above her. “Do we know where this CoNCH place is, by the way?”
“There’s a large sealed room in the center of the middle deck past the mess room,” Ghushtre said. “It’s just past the point where the main corridor splits into a T-junction. The only door that I saw leading it faced toward the rear of the ship.”
“Sounds like the place,” Jody said. “Okay. Where’s—?”
She broke off as the speaker clicked. “His Excellency Shahni Omnathi agrees,” Uy announced. “He and his entourage will meet your aircar at the city gate.”
“Excellent,” Tamu said, and there was no mistaking the relief in his voice. “My Marines will meet him at the Government Building.”
“Your Marines will meet him at the city gate.” Uy said tartly. “My Cobras will also be accompanying him.”
“Sounds a bit crowded,” Tamu warned. “But not impossibly so. The aircar is on its way.”
“And you will treat him with respect,” Uy added. “Or I promise that you’ll answer for it.”
“Have no fear,” Tamu said, and Jody could envision the man’s condescending smile. “We will treat him with all the respect and honor he deserves.”
“Then we shall see you again soon, Commander,” Uy said. “Safe travels.”
There was a click as Uy cut off his side of the conversation. “Ifrit Ghushtre?” Tamu called. “Are you still there?”
“I am,” Ghushtre said.
“Proper Dominion procedure calls for a military honor guard to welcome dignitaries aboard,” Tamu said. “Since you’ve already neutralized the entire onboard Marine contingent, I’d like you and your companions to provide that escort.”
“Of course,” Ghushtre said stiffly. “We would hardly leave His Excellency to the mercies of your forces. I trust you’ll be on hand to greet him personally, as well?”
“Under normal circumstances, I would be honored,” Tamu said grimly. “In this case, I’d prefer to wait behind locked doors until my men confirm there’s no threat to my ship.”
“Such courage you have,” Ghushtre said sarcastically. “Now allow me a time of silence. I need to meditate on the proper welcoming greeting.”
Jody gestured, and the Cobra activated his sonic again. “Where are your combat suits?” she murmured.
Ghushtre nodded down the corridor. “Back there,” he said. “Come.”
He led the way to the storage bin where Nisti had launched his ambush against the two Marines. Tied together in a bundle in one corner were the three scaled gray suits. “We planned to clear the guards from the hatchway and then retrieve them,” Ghushtre explained as he removed the two gas canisters from one of the suits. He did something to them, then handed them to Jody. “They’re keyed for impact trigger,” he said. “You need merely throw them against the wall or floor.”
“Got it,” Jody said, gingerly taking the canisters and putting one in each of her tunic’s side pockets. “I’ll go try to find a place where I can watch the CoNCH. If someone opens the engine room door, will you be able to get a canister in there if you’re all the way up by the forward hatch? The ceiling’s too low to get much of an arc on the throw.”
“That won’t be a problem,” Ghushtre assured her, eyeing the engine room door as he removed the other suits’ canisters. “I can set them for timed detonation so that bounces won’t matter. There’s another stairway leading up from just in front of the engineering door that will give you a view of the CoNCH entrance.”
Jody craned her neck. There was another stairway down there, all right. She hadn’t noticed it before. “Perfect. Remember, don’t gas Shahni Omnathi and the others until they’re all the way inside the ship. If they’re anywhere still outside, they’ll probably be in range of the gunbays.”
“Understood,” Ghushtre said. “Good luck.”
The massive door sealing off the control room was just where Ghushtre had said it would be. Jody settled into position on the aft stairway, crouching a few steps down with her eyes on a level with the deck. As long as no one tried to use the stairs she should be mostly undetectable. And if someone did start down from the upper deck the sound of footsteps should give her enough warning to get back down and out of the way.
Pulling the gas canister from her right-hand pocket, setting it onto the top stair in front of her, she rubbed her suddenly sweaty palms on her silliweave trousers and settled in to wait.
And tried to force calm into her mind. Because suddenly, the fate of two worlds were resting on her shoulders.
It hadn’t been like that during the Troft invasion. She’d played her part in Caelian’s victory, certainly. But the planning and execution had been handled by other people. Experienced people, or at least trained people. She’d been one of hundreds who’d helped, followed orders, and occasionally come up with a useful idea or two.
This time it was different. She was the one who’d first recognized the corner Tamu had backed himself into. She was the one who’d figured out how to exploit that. She was the one crouching here now with a gas canister.
She was the one whose actions over the next few minutes would mean success or failure.
She drew a long, careful breath, pushing back the doubts. She was a Broom, and a Moreau, and her
family had a long tradition of standing at the pivot points of history. Her parents, grandparents, and brothers had all played such roles. It was time for her to step up and do the same.
And then, as she wiped her hands one last time, there was a soft but deep click from in front of her, and the door began to swing ponderously open. As it did, one of the other room doors nearby slid open and two men slipped into the corridor and hurried toward the CoNCH door.
Jody smiled grimly as she picked up the gas canister. She’d guessed right, all the way down the line. Perfect. Rising half to her feet, she lifted the canister over her head.
And as she cocked her arm to throw, a hand closed around hers. “I don’t think so,” a voice murmured in her ear.
Jody jerked violently, her heart suddenly pounding. She wrenched at the grip, trying to pull her hand free, trying to spin around. Trying to do something.
But it was no use. The man behind her had an iron grip, and her efforts didn’t even budge him.
“Come on,” he said with a grunt, hauling her to her feet and pushing her the rest of the way up the stairs. The two men who’d been running for the open door looked back over their shoulders at the little drama, their expressions part startled, part relieved. Jody’s feet reached the deck, and as her captor forced her toward the door his other hand caught her left wrist and pulled it back behind her, twisting it up at the elbow in a hammer-lock hold. “Keep moving,” he added, picking up his pace.
She peered back over her shoulder. It was one of the Marines, wearing the same type of fatigues as the other crewmen she’d seen aboard the Squire. But over the fatigues he’d thrown on his dress tunic.
Which only made sense. The fatigues didn’t have parrot gun epaulets. The dress tunic did.
“Nice try, though,” he continued as he hurried her along. “Your Qasaman friends are good, too—together, you almost had us. Not your fault none of you knew about the hidden sentry post behind the stairs.”
“So it was a trap,” Jody said, a bitter taste in her mouth. “You were there the whole time.”
