Phalanx leader Zephanon, commander of all Achakai mercenaries on Feznako, took her warning as a mild insult. “Colonel Perkins, you insult the Achakai. As you are a primitive alien and not familiar with our culture, I will pretend your ignorant words were caused by a fault of the translator. The Achakai do not suffer the failures of discipline that afflict the amateur soldiers of the warrior caste. We do not have any ‘rogue actors’ in our ranks.”
“I am familiar enough about your culture, and I wasn’t talking about the Achakai.”
“Then why bother to repeat this warning to me? We received the rules governing the extraction of the Legion, and we will comply.”
“I mention it to you because we will be holding the Achakai partly responsible for ‘rogue actions’ by any Kristang on the planet.”
His eyes narrowed for only a moment, then his stone-faced neutral expression restored itself. “I fail to see how your policy of random punishment, will achieve the goal of discouraging the people actually responsible for violating the terms of the agreement.”
She sat back in her chair. “It’s easy, so I’ll explain it to you. The Achakai have units scattered throughout the multiple clans and many subclans on Feznako. Your units are organized, disciplined and subject to central command authority. Subject to your authority, Zephanon. The loss of senior leadership by the Swift Arrow clan here”-
“Losses caused by your people,” he interjected.
“Yes,” she smiled. “We did go into their holes and kill those rats,” she tilted her head and waited a moment, to see if the Achakai leader understood the translation. The briefest of upturn at one corner of his mouth, told her he did know what a ‘rat’ was. And that hearing the warrior caste senior leaders referred to by such an insult amused him. “Having the enemy leaderless was useful to us in battle, but now it is a liability. No one is in firm control of the major clans here, there is still fighting going on within the clan hierarchies, despite the ceasefire agreement. That poses a risk that some idiot minor leader will try to make a name for himself, by striking at the Legion before we have pulled our boots off this rock. The largest group of Kristang under a single authority is the Achakai. So, we are making the Achakai responsible for keeping the clans in compliance with the evac agreement.”
“I have no authority to-”
“Bullshit. You understood that expression, right? Bullshit? Yeah, you did. Life isn’t fair, so if you don’t like being placed in authority over this planet, step down and let someone else in Achakai leadership handle the job. The Legion doesn’t care which lizard enforces the agreement, we only care that it is enforced.”
For the first time, she had broken his stoic mask of composure. “Colonel, my people are mercenaries. We have no authority to interfere in clan affairs. The Achakai,” deep-seated anguish flashed across his face, “are not a clan.”
“You have authority to intervene now,” she pulled a crystal chip out of a pocket and slid it across the table to him. “This chip authenticates your new contract. This planet technically belongs to the Swift Arrow clan, the other clans here are now unwanted guests. The Swift Arrows have hired you to manage the evacuation.”
Zephanon picked up the chip, but did not touch it to his phone to authenticate and read the message. “The Swift Arrow clan leadership on this world is in more chaos than the other clans. They can’t even-”
“The contract is not from Swift Arrow leadership here. It comes directly from leadership on their clan homeworld. A fast courier ship arrived this morning, with terms of the contract” she pointed to the chip.
Zephanon knew he was trapped, in a very uncomfortable situation. “This is unprecedented. Never before have Achakai been placed in a position of authority over clan warriors. It will cause,” he pressed the chip to his phone to read the message, mostly to give himself time to think. “The clans, especially these ‘hotheads’ you mentioned, will resist being given orders by mercenaries. You suggested some minor clan leader might try to make a name for himself by attacking the Legion? This,” he waved the crystal chip, “will ensure that minor clan leaders will resist the authority given to the Achakai, and strike at my people.”
“Your people are master assassins, or so you claim. If hothead clan leaders become a problem,” she shrugged, “eliminate them.”
“What you suggest is not so easy to accomplish,” the mercenary leader lost a tiny bit of his icy reserve, leaning forward onto the table. “My people are greatly outnumbered.”
“We know that. We also know it is not realistic to expect there will be no outbreaks of violence. We prefer,” she smiled again. “That such violence is directed at the Achakai, rather than the Legion.”
“I underestimated your ruthlessness, human.”
“You underestimated my determination, Achakai. However, I have no wish for more pointless bloodshed, especially not to see the blood of your people spilled on this worthless planet.”
“Because you care so much about us?” Even through the translator and his impassive expression, his sarcasm was clear.
“We are both mercenaries, you and I. The Legion and the Achakai. We go where our masters tell us. The motto of the human part of the Legion, the Expeditionary Force, is ‘Anytime, Anywhere, Any Fight’,” she tapped the ExForce logo on her uniform top. “We don’t choose our battles, they are chosen for us. It is the same for you.”
“I still do not believe you will hesitate to get my people killed, if it will save a single life on your side.”
“I won’t,” she admitted. “That doesn’t mean I want any senseless, useless violence. Your people are outnumbered. There will be resistance to your new authority. So, when the first incident happens, we make an example.”
“How so?”
She pointed to the ceiling. “Our beetle friends are still upset at being cheated out of a prime wagering opportunity.” She knew that was a gross understatement. According to Dave, who was aboard the Jeraptha ship with a half-dozen other humans, explaining the intricacies of fantasy sports, the beetles were still hopping mad about the treachery of the Glabosor personnel in particular, and the Ruhar in general. While their punishment of the Ruhar would have to wait, there were plenty of dastardly lizards on the planet below. “To put it bluntly, our friends in orbit really, really want to smash something down here, and they are looking for an excuse. The first time some clan idiot gets out of line, you call the Jeraptha directly, and they will rain hellfire over the entire area. Plus hitting whatever other targets they think might have been involved. And probably targets next to that. The beetles are not going to be precise about choosing targets, so let the clans down here know that. The first clan that gets out of line will be responsible for a lot of others getting hit.”
“That,” he paused to consider. “Would be effective. You expect me to believe the Jeraptha will take targeting directives from me? From their avowed enemy?”
“Sure. First, the Kristang are not the avowed enemy of the Jeraptha. To the beetles, you lowly lizards aren’t even worth thinking about. Plus, if you try to play games with the Jeraptha, they will not be pleased. Their weapons can target any point on the surface, including you.”
Phalanx leader Zephanon turned the crystal chip over in his fingers, then tucked it into a pouch on his belt. “This has been a truly astonishing assignment. Humans and Verd-kris fighting together, under the Ruhar. The Ruhar committing a level of treachery that is impressive even for them. The Jeraptha intervening directly in a low-level conflict on a backwater planet. And now, Achakai placed in authority over every clan on Feznako. Perhaps, though we are enemies, we do understand each other somewhat. The life of mercenaries is the same, all across the galaxy. Colonel Perkins, I congratulate you on your victory. It was most instructive.”
“It was the Legion’s victory.”
“Come, Colonel. False modesty is insulting.”
“Then,” she blushed slightly, hoping the alien would not understand the meaning. “Thank you. It certainly ha
s been instructive, to both sides. Zephanon,” she took the fleeting opportunity to raise the subject that was the true purpose of the meeting. “There is a potential arrangement that could benefit both of our peoples. The Legion, and the Achakai. I propose that-”
“Colonel Perkins,” he waved an arm, she noted it was his uninjured left arm. “I must insist you stop there. It is apparent what you are about to ask me, and you are wasting both of our time. Also, you insult me, and my people. I will not hear it.”
“Oh,” she arched an eyebrow. “What do you think I am going to ask?” When he didn’t answer, she prompted him with “It is not insulting if you tell me what I am thinking.”
“You were going to suggest I betray my people. The Kristang people,” he emphasized.
“The society that keeps you down, that refuses to grant you honors you have earned in battle? The society that, no. The warrior caste that has determined you have no honor, can never have honor, because something your ancestors might have done? That Kristang people?”
He stiffened. “My honor is my own. I do not need others to tell me whether I have honor. You will not get me, or any Achakai to betray my people. That would be dishonorable.”
She cocked her head as if she did not understand. “Why? What do you think I was going to ask you?”
“It is obvious,” his glare bored into her eyes. “You want to hire the Achakai as mercenaries, to fight alongside your Legion.”
“Ha,” she laughed once, quietly. “No, Zephanon, you have it wrong,” she shook her head.
That made the stoic mercenary break his stony mask for the briefest moment. “You do not want to-”
“We don’t want to hire the Achakai to serve with the Legion.” She paused. “We want you to hire us.”
THE END
Deathtrap Page 47
