Kris Longknife Stalwart

by Mike Shepherd

  Kris invited the Balan delegation to lunch with her. It was what one would expect in an Imperial Palace, but hardly the fare aboard a warship. The lawyers were served the same food, but for them, it was a working lunch.

  After the meal, the Balan delegation gave Kris a thorough briefing on what was going on in the system. None of it came as a surprise. However, the extent of it went well beyond what she had monitored from space.

  Larry, himself, presented his assessment of the political climate on the planet below. Most of the most fervent rebels among the military had fled, as had many of the middle management types that had pushed for the civil war with an eye toward their own promotion. Most of the lower clan lordlings had remained neutral in the debate, likely because they saw little in it that benefited them, and a lot that could cost them their neck. Most of the senior clan lords had stayed, choosing to believe Kris's offer of protection. Not all, but most.

  Kris had several hundred positions to fill, more than she had originally known. She made a call to the Planetary Overlords in waiting and asked them to distribute the vacancy notices among their subordinates.

  They did so, with ill humor.

  Suppertime came, and Kris again put on a spread fit for an Emperor. She included Admiral Kitano and several of the Iteeche admirals that were being considered for commanding the Balan fleet as well as generals that would be given commands in Balan's Army.

  The conversation around the tables was usually light, but often divided into a discussion of specific issues that would face those who commanded at Balan. It never grew heated but stayed to just the facts. Indeed, the only thing that inspired grumbling among her guests was that if they ate like this every day, their clothes would soon not fit.

  Kris let the dinner conversation go long. It appeared to be quite productive. She visited each table and each visit turned into a report on what they'd settled over dinner. Before dismissing her dinner party, Kris brought the lawyers in. A count showed that not one of them had been killed and there were no visible cuts or bruises.

  They had reached agreement on all the important things, and even most of the minor ones. Admiral Linn's title of Supreme Planetary Overseer had proved hard for them to swallow. A final appeal was made to Kris and Larry. He accepted Admiral Linn's title with a quick wave of his right hands.

  "A rose by any other name would smell so sweet," Kris said, wondering how it would translate into Iteeche.

  "If the Overseer and the Overlord can see eyes-to-eyes, there will be no problems," Larry said. Kris had made sure during the meal to have Lynn sitting at Larry's right elbow and she was at his left.

  They had gotten along fine and ended up exchanging jokes about a place they had spent time on in their early careers. It was a cold, icy rock that they all hated, but was a good bonding experience for those that were no longer there.

  Kris signed the treaty of surrender first, followed by the Overlord and the Overseer. Several of Balan's high ranking civilians and military personnel signed as well. Then it was back to Kris's side for the signatures of the military personnel she was leaving in charge.

  She wished that she had more civilian representatives handy to add their signatures to the fancy parchment Nelly had produced. However, she still didn't have word of who would do what from the overlords-in-waiting.

  Kris was starting to wonder if her biggest problems would be from loyalist civilians than her new allies from the rebellion.

  Then Nelly cleared her nonexistent throat. "Admiral Longknife, we have a problem on Balan."

  The conversations around the rooms came to a roaring halt. Everyone turned to Kris as she stood up. She wanted to be seen by everyone here.

  This is how I solve problems.

  "Nelly, what's the problem?"

  "A water main has blown up at a junction of two large aqueducts. Several million Iteeche will be without water in a few minutes. Loss of power and communications will follow shortly thereafter, assuming Balan uses the same construction codes as Zargoth. Water will likely flood communications, power, and sewage very quickly. Maybe even close down the rolling roads."

  Kris muttered a few words she didn't use when the kids were around.

  "Nelly, get Commander Longknife. Alert the Marine crime scene investigating team. General Compeel, can you provide a company of troops with more on standby?"

  Kris turned to Larry. "Can you arrange for our people to work with yours? I know jurisdiction is often a touchy problem at crime scenes. I think you want to get to the bottom of this as quickly as I do."

  "Yes. Definitely. Tom is my Minister of Planetary Security. Would you please accompany this Commander Longknife and see that nothing stands in the way of our finding this saboteur."

  "Of course, Sir. Where do I go?"

  "Wait for her on the quarterdeck," Kris said. "You can't miss her red hair."

  In a blink the Iteeche was gone leaving Kris with a serious question. Who could have done this and why? It certainly could be a rebel that didn't make it when the ships were leaving.

  However . . .

  NELLY, HAVE ANY PEOPLE FROM THE BATTLESHIPS OF STATE GONE ASHORE? MORE IMPORTANTLY, HAVE ANY OF THEM TAKEN THE SPACE ELEVATOR DOWN?

  KRIS, SEVERAL HAVE GONE ASHORE. A FEW WENT BELOW TO ACQUIRE FOOD AND DELICACIES FOR THE SENIOR CLAN LORDS' DINNERS. WE COULD NOT FOLLOW THEM ONCE THEY LEFT THE SPACE ELEVATOR.

  SO, WE HAVE A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, PLENTY OF SUSPECTS, AND NO REAL WAY TO PROVE ANY OF THIS. NELLY, REVIEW WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THOSE THAT WENT BELOW. ARE ANY OF THEM TRAINED IN EXPLOSIVES?

  There was only a slight pause before Nelly answered. KRIS, THERE IS LITTLE MORE THAN THEIR NAMES ON THE PASSENGER LISTS. SOME SHOW MILITARY RANKS, BUT WITHOUT ME, YOU COULD NOT BUILD A BOMB AND KNOW WHERE TO PLACE IT FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT.

  THANK YOU, NELLY, FOR TELLING ME ONE OF THE MANY THINGS I DON'T KNOW.

  Further thought was interrupted. "Kris, you have a call coming in from Commander Longknife."

  "Longknife One here. How's it going Meg?"

  28

  Lieutenant Commander Megan Longknife, aide de camp to Grand Admiral Kris Longknife, was used to being rousted out of bed or hauled away from a meal. It came with the job. If she'd wanted regular hours, she could have stayed on distant Santa Maria. Certainly, she could have avoided volunteering for a second tour as Kris's dog robber.

  Yet, here she was, still chewing her last bite of supper, being helped into a full set of space armor.

  "I'm not making the same mistake I made at Zargoth," she muttered to herself and the young Marine helping her get into her play clothes. On Zargoth, she'd made the mistake of dropping down the beanstalk in just a blue shipsuit.

  Bad planning.

  When she and the Marine were satisfied, and Gunny had looked her over, she holstered her sidearm and headed for the quarterdeck on the double.

  That place was filling up fast. An Iteeche in what may or may not have been a uniform, but who looked most officious, strode from Kris's day quarters. A Marine squad with a cart full of gear arrived from the left as she entered from the right. Behind the Marines that Meg took for the forensic team, came another squad of MPs. These had been trained to work with the local police and coordinate all the different efforts going on. At least all those that didn't require a Longknife to stick her nose in.

  Quietly behind them followed a small squad, two Marines with long rifles, and two more with scopes strapped to the top of their packs. So, Kris was sending Meg down with not one, but two sniper teams. Either this was going to be a hot job, or the admiral wasn't taking any chances on sending too little.

  Across the pier, a Marine company was forming ranks only paces from the brow of the Defiant.

  Kris was definitely going heavy. In front of them, a long line of eight-wheeled infantry fighting vehicles waited to transport them quickly to the space elevator's ferry station.

  Megan turned to the Iteeche and introduced herself. He responded with a name a foot long. She followed Kris's pr
actice of naming him Tom for short and letting Lily remember to use the full name when she spoke to him. He was the Minister of Planetary Security.

  Meg was coming up in the world. She now had a higher class of juvenile delinquents to babysit. Of course, it could be that he was along to babysit her. No doubt, they'd have a fun time before this was over.

  LILY, I THINK WE NEED A FLATBED STATION CART. ONE WITH A HANDRAIL IN FRONT FOR TOM AND I TO HOLD ON TO.

  A moment later, such an electric cart rose from the deck right next to the brow and motored silently down the gangplank. It not only had the requested handrails, but also wide steps on the back to make it easy for an Iteeche to mount.

  Tom studied the sudden addition with a jaundiced eye. All four of them. "They told me that you Humans enjoyed playing with the magic metal. I see that I am dealing with one of the best."

  "Yes, sir. I am honored to have one of Nelly's children at my neck. She is one of the sentient computers. Please call her Lily if you chose to address her."

  The Iteeche cleared his throat. "I can't believe I'm saying this. How do you do, Ms. Lily?"

  "I am fine, Sir, thank you," Lily replied with equal formality. "I am looking forward to finding the culprit who has put your people at risk."

  The Iteeche raised four eyebrows. Only for a few millimeters, but still, he eyed Megan with puzzlement.

  "Lily will likely do a lot to apprehend the criminal," Megan said. "Nelly's kids are very smart and often underestimated. Few folks get a chance to do it twice."

  Meg looked around, everything seemed in order and ready to go.

  "An Iteeche company is approaching this pier on A deck," Lily said. "They also have been reinforced with a platoon of MPs and two sniper teams."

  "Very good," Megan said, "Please get me a line to Kris."

  A holograph of Kris and several Humans and Iteeche with her formed in the air before Megan and Tom.

  "Longknife One here. How's it going Meg."

  "We are ready to depart the Princess Royal, Your Highness. Do you have any last instructions for me or Tom?"

  "Nope. Find the bastard who did this. Bring him before me in chains if he's one of ours. Let Tom have him if he's a local. And, of course, make it quick."

  "Do you have someone checking to see if anyone remembers one of our Iteeche going dirtside, or should I start beating that tree as well?"

  "Don't worry. We'll handle everything topside. You take care of what's dirtside."

  "Aye, aye, Admiral. Longknife Two out." And the holograph vanished.

  "Ready to go, sir."

  "After you, Miss."

  Megan rendered honors and led the bemused Iteeche civilian down the brow to their waiting cart. The Marines, in full battle rattle, followed her across the gangplank and quickly mounted up. More electric powered infantry fighting trucks waited for them there.

  Megan took the lead, heading the entire formation for the elevators up to the main deck of the station.

  As expected, a reinforced company of Iteeche Marines waited for them on A deck. They were also using eight-wheeled infantry fighting trucks. As Meg and Tom exited the elevator up from the pier, they motored silently toward the ferry station.

  Megan fell in behind the Iteeche with her three special squads rolling around her. Behind them came the Royal US Marine Corps company.

  Pity the poor SOB who took a pot shot at this crew.

  As they entered the station, they went straight to the loading dock. The last scheduled ferry had been held for them.

  Tom looked around at all the heavy metal parked around them. "Would you mind if I said that I felt a bit exposed in that nice station truck that you provided for me? Don't you feel the same?"

  "I sure do, Sir," Megan said. "We'll be riding with the MPs as soon as we depart the ferry. I didn't think it would be a good idea to start off by locking you up in a metal box where you couldn't see what was going on around you."

  "I appreciate that concern," he said. "But when we get down?"

  "Lilly will add this Smart Metal, magic metal if you prefer, to several of the gun trucks. She can also turn the Smart Metal transparent. That should give us the option of watching what's going by if we want to."

  "You think of everything," Tom said.

  "Only because I've been here, Sir. A local blew up the rolling roads in one major city on Zargoth. It caused a series of cascading crises, much like I think this incident will. I'll get a lousy fitness rating if I can't do it better this time than I did last time."

  "Did you catch the culprit?"

  "Actually, we didn't. We were too busy fixing the problems to do much of a police sweep. Our sniper team did take out a shooter who took a pot shot at me. Maybe that was the guy. Or it could have been the guy who tried to do it to another town. Security was tight and that guy got shot dead before he managed to cause any trouble."

  "I'm beginning to believe that I might like you, Longknife. Are you also related to the Hammer of Iteeche Longknife?"

  "I have the honor, or pain in the butt, depending on the day, of being his great-great-granddaughter. The Grand Admiral and I are cousins from different generations and from quite different limbs of the family tree. I come from a lost colony a quarter of the way across the galaxy. Her folks stayed home."

  "Halfway across the galaxy. I didn't think you Humans had colonies that far afield."

  "We haven't. Our exploration ship took a wrong turn four hundred years ago, added twists to it, and became totally lost. We were surviving, just barely, when Ray Longknife took off for a meeting. His ship was sabotaged and stumbled across us when we were in a heap of trouble."

  "Don't you Longknifes do that a lot? Walk into trouble, I mean."

  Megan chuckled. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, has the Longknife legend spread this far?"

  "I don't know what the Longknife legend is, but if you ask any Iteeche older than ten years they will tell you that Longknifes mean trouble. Either them causing it, or them in it."

  "No wonder the boss lady can't get any respect," Megan sighed.

  They got a drink in the VIP lounge. Every ferry seemed to have one. Megan had to settle for tea provided by a Gunny who thought ahead.

  A half hour later, Meg's rump battalion moved off the ferry smartly, only to find several rigs that had to qualify as limos and police cruisers blocking their way.

  "I believe my boss laid on a welcoming party," Tom said.

  Megan opened the aft hatch of their gun truck and soon found herself talking to the governor of the district, the mayor of the capital, the baron for public security, and the baron for public services.

  Unlike the minor lordlings she'd dealt with on Zargoth, these folks all sounded quite motivated to get this problem solved.

  The police escort led the battalion to where the break was. Megan and Tom joined the four local officials in a very large limo, and discussed their problem along the way.

  There wasn't much to discuss.

  "The explosion occurred just after suppertime," the governor said.

  "A quarter of the capital is now without water," the mayor added.

  "We have lost communication access in that quarter. Power is going down slowly around the break. Sewage went when we lost water."

  "Do you have any idea who did this?" Meg asked.

  The other four Iteeche looked at Tom for permission to respond to the two eyes.

  "Since our Planetary Overlord is about to surrender to her cousin, I strongly recommend that you answer any of her questions."

  "Yes, sir. Ah, how may we address you, woman warrior?" the governor asked.

  "I am Commander Longknife," Megan said. "Longknife 2 is my radio call sign. Any further questions?"

  "No, Commander Longknife," the governor said, then lightly pointed with his lower left arm at the police official.

  "We are going from apartment to apartment, asking if anyone saw anyone plant a bomb. However, that could have been done below ground, and we doubt anyone saw it."

&nb
sp; "Has anyone been working below ground today?" Meg asked.

  "No, Commander Longknife," the services baron said. "We had no one working on any of the sub-surface services."

  "So, did anyone see anyone go below?" Meg asked, then demanded, "Are you going at this investigation slowly, or did you just fail to think of that?"

  The four Iteeche began staring at each other.

  "Answer her," Tom ordered.

  Finally, the Baron of Police said, "The officers in the area did a standard search and interrogation for someone who had planted a bomb. I was told not to do anything to disturb the scene of the explosion."

  How the Don’t Disturb turned into a Don't Look Under the Street was something that Meg would leave to reflect upon another time.

  She settled on asking for now, "How long until we get to the scene of the explosion?"

  "Six point three minutes," the governor replied.

  "Lily, get me the leaders of my squads and companies."

  "Aye, aye, ma'am," came from Megan's neck.

  Tom sat still while the other four Iteeche eyed the source of the words coming out of the air and looked uncomfortable. The Baron of Public Services’ fingers made strange signs that he strove to conceal.

  I guess they have magic against the evil eye, too.

  "Team, I want to stop a block away from the site of the explosion. Forensics, I want you to check any service hole covers for explosive residue. Lieutenant, I want you and your best evidence tech to take a look at the site of the explosion. Determine if there is any chance of finding any evidence."

  "Aye, aye, Commander."

  "Company skippers, check your date of rank and the highest ranking person is in charge of our perimeter. Please deploy the Marines to assure that we are not disturbed. Snipers, pair up, Human and Iteeche, and find two good vantage points. If you see anyone getting ready to shoot at this force, take them down."

  "Aye, aye, ma'am."

  "MPs, again, check to see who is senior. I want you to liaise with the local police and coordinate a second search that includes asking if anyone saw anything that looked suspicious: a stranger carrying a large package, a vehicle stopped next to a service access hole. Anything out of the ordinary.”