Velmeran realized something about himself – what he was in comparison, and what he believed himself to be. Killing this man would give him no satisfaction, nor would it restore some balance in his own sense of justice. Dveyella's death would not be vindicated in blood, but by the accomplishment of her dream. Vengeance was his for the taking, and he did not desire it. He could not hate this man, not as Commander Trace hated him.
He shot anyway, because it was his duty.
Commander Trace's back exploded in a sheet of flames, and the force of that explosion threw him forward to land with bone-crushing force just short of the open doorway and the safety he sought. He lay there motionless, the material of his uniform burning lazily. Velmeran had no more time for that matter. Turning back to the transport, he saw that Marlena had done nothing to load the memory cell.
"Get that thing on board!" he called impatiently. "We have to get out of here now."
"I did not want to be a distraction," she replied, working the controls of the handling arms. The unit lifted easily from its cradle where it had lain for thousands of years, and the arms retracted it back into the ship, drawing it into the bay. The fit was so tight that it did not appear likely to go, although the measurements Valthyrra had provided insisted that it would slip in with a third of a meter to spare. Velmeran tossed the cutting laser and the light into the bay even as Marlena began to close the door.
"He is gone!" Tregloran warned suddenly.
Velmeran turned quickly to see that Trace's body had indeed vanished. He had either revived enough to drag himself out the door, or someone had quietly collected him, dead or alive. Velmeran suspected the latter. Either way, there was nothing that he could do about it. He wanted Donalt Trace dead for the same reason that he would want to deprive the Union of any valuable weapon. But at that moment he had to get his attack force away.
"We have to be on our way out," he said, and waved the transport out of the chamber. "Swing that ship around and get out of here, Threl. We will guard your back."
-16-
The transport spun around in a half circle as Threl cautiously pivoted the ship to face back the way it had come in. He then led the transport down the side corridor and out the impromptu entrance of the gaping hole in the outer wall. Once the larger ship was clear of the budding, the two fighters rose to the ceiling and passed out through the broken windows. It might have seemed easier for them to have followed the transport out, but they could not. As small as they were in comparison, their wingspan was too wide for that opening; the boxlike hull of the transport had no wings or fins.
What they found outside appeared at first glance to be absolute confusion. The government building had apparently been replete with automated sentries. Scores of them had appeared on terraces and rooftops to shoot at the circling wolf ships. And the Starwolves had been entertaining themselves with picking off those sentries. But the sentries were a self-sacrificing diversion, occupying the Star-wolves' attention while the inhabitants of the budding fled. Indeed, the Sector Residence and the Farstell Trade building had been evacuated as well; Velmeran applauded Councdor Lake's wisdom in guessing his next move.
The wolf ships now dropped to street level for the final phase of their attack. They began to streak in low and fast, firing rapid bursts from their auxiliary cannons into the lowest levels of those three buddings, so that in barely half a minute they were all reduced to smoking rubble. This was not wanton destruction but a calculated strategic move. The destruction of those buildings also meant the destruction of the bureaucracy they housed. The management of both the government and the trade company in this sector would be seriously impaired for months or even years to come.
Once that task was complete, the Starwolves withdrew to the upper levels of the cavern, forming into their separate packs. Velmeran found eight present, including his own; the two that comprised Baress's assault force had not yet returned.
"Baress?" Velmeran called.
"We are on our way out," he answered promptly. "The planetary defenses are down. Cut a hole in the roof and start out. We would join you in time to bring up the rear."
Velmeran waited no longer. Flying out over the middle of the city, he dived down to make some running room and arched up toward the dome, aiming a blast from his accessory cannon to its very center. As the smoke cleared he saw blue morning sky beyond and shot through that small opening without hesitation, his pack following him closely. The transport slipped through the hole next, and the remaining packs brought up the rear. The second attack force shot out the tunnel leading to the power complex in time to fall in place behind the others.
Once all the wolf ships were clear, they began to accelerate quickly, at the same time reforming into the tight arrowheads of their running formations. Velmeran's pack took the lead and the rest gathered into a defensive sphere about the transport. Once assembled, they accelerated straight up, leaving the planet by the shortest course. They were aware that a fleet of Union destroyers and battleships such as they had never seen lay directly in their path, waiting to intercept them.
At that moment four more groups of five packs each suddenly appeared at the same instant, descending upon the Union fleet with frightening speed as they closed for the kill. Warships tried to adjust to the new attack, frantically pivoting to face incoming ships. The only result was that the fleet was in a state of complete confusion as their new attackers began to rip them apart with cannons they did not normally expect on fighters. The Starwolf forces closed quickly to crush the Union ships between their concentrated barrage, the packs separating to strike at different portions of the fleet, then separating again as fighters went after individual targets. They shot to kill, their accessory cannons tearing entire ships apart in a single pass.
Velmeran's assault force stayed in tight formation, concentrating their own fire on anything in or near their path, opening a hole for themselves through the enemy fleet. Six of the packs fell behind the transport to guard the rear as they shot through that opening unopposed. Then they were out the other side, and the six following packs circled around to return to battle. Two of the remaining packs dropped back behind the transport as they prepared to cross the Union's second line of defense.
Farther out, in an arch behind the first fleet, awaited the stingships. Their original task had been to go after anything that tried to break from the main battle. They now prepared themselves to intercept this small group fleeing with their prize. Thirty carriers worked quickly to release their loads, swinging long racks of stingships out from their sides for deployment.
Before they were able to launch, powerful bolts of energy leaped out from empty space, so powerful that they completely destroyed the carriers and their cargoes of stingships on touch. Perhaps the Union pilots looked about in confusion for their unseen enemy, but their scanners reported only empty space. At the last instant indistinct shapes of enormous proportions began to register, only a moment before the carriers themselves became visible. The three immense ships went through the second line of defense like mowers reaping a field, leaving nothing but Velmeran's assault force as he led it to the safety of open space. The Methryn circled back to follow, accelerating quickly to move ahead, whfle the Delvon and the Karvand continued on. Their presence in the first field of battle would decide matters there very quickly.
Once they were well away of the area of Vinthra and the possibility of any danger, Velmeran cut acceleration to give the Methryn a chance to overtake them. He waited as she moved ahead and positioned herself before the packs, matching speed for their final approach. The transport separated from the rest, heading for its own bay just ahead of the big holding bays. The four packs moved apart, each orienting on one of the Methryn's four flight decks as the fighters fed back in single file for landing.
The welcome sight of home served as a signal to Velmeran that it was time to shut down, in spite of his best efforts to remain alert. He had not eaten in ten hours now, too long for a Kelvessan under any circumst
ances, who could starve to death in only three days. He was able to bring his ship in for an acceptable landing with only the greatest effort, then sat back in his seat, wondering how he was going to get himself out of the cockpit. Benthoran was there as soon as the rack was in place, unstrapping him and actually lifting him out of the cockpit to all but carry him down the platform to the deck, leaning him against the platform of the rack.
"Can you hold on here for a moment?" Benthoran asked.
"Yes, of course," Velmeran insisted.
"Someone wtil be along to help you in a minute. You are needed on the bridge."
Velmeran nodded, and promptly forgot all about it as he wished for something to eat. Because he was not looking up, he did not see it coming. Four strong arms suddenly closed about him as he was hugged with crushing force, so tightly that he squeaked in protest in spite of his armor. He had no idea who might have hold of him; all he could see was white armor, brown hair and a pointed ear. All Kelvessan had brown hair and pointed ears. The white armor was the clue, and it was not tall enough to be Mayelna. He could think of no one else who would spare him such obvious affection except... Consherra?
"Meran, you did it!" she exclaimed. Definitely Consherra.
"I know I did it. I was there."
She let go of him quickly, looking as if she had committed the worst of indiscretions. Remembering the container she carried in one hand, she pulled off the top and gave it to him. "Drink this."
Velmeran took the container and drank deeply. It contained a concentrated solution of sugars that Kelvessan could put to immediate use as a source of energy, as he had suspected.
"That is just to get you going again," Consherra explained. "I have more waiting. Just now you must get to the bridge in record time."
"What is it?" Velmeran asked as she began to lead him toward the lift.
"Someone wants to talk to you."
Consherra put them on a waiting lift, refusing to say another word except to explain that nothing was wrong. She distracted him from asking too many questions – which she would not answer anyway – by placing something to eat in every free hand he had. By the time the lift reached the bridge, he was beginning to feel not quite so hungry and a great deal stronger. Best of all, his mind was once again clear and his thoughts sharp.
As they entered the bridge, Velmeran saw that Mayelna was standing at the com station, both she and Valthyrra peering over Korleran's shoulder. All three glanced over when they saw that Consherra had returned with him. Mayelna hurried over to intercept the pair, drawing them up short.
"Listen to me well, Meran," she explained quickly. "Councilor Lake is on the com and he wants to talk to you. Understand this. The ships have withdrawn their packs and the Vardon's memory cell is safely on board. We have had no losses, not a dent, scratch nor scoring. Your plan worked perfectly."
Velmeran nodded in understanding. With the taking of Vannkam behind him, he must now play the part of the Starwolf extraordinaire, the young hero whose name made Sector Commanders swear and company executives turn pale with fright. He accepted that, because it was important to his plans. Mayelna led him to the communications console and Korleran surrendered her seat to him.
"Councilor Lake?" he said as Korleran helped him adjust the com mike.
"Commander Velmeran?" the Councdor asked in return.
"No, just pack leader," Velmeran corrected him.
"Excuse me. I confer tides where they are deserved," Lake explained. "I am so glad to be able to catch you at home. I do want to thank you for being so efficient. I went to take a quick look after you left. It looks a mess, but it is all superficial. I want to thank you for sparing my city."
"And you knew it," Velmeran said. "You ordered the evacuation of the three buildings that you knew we would destroy."
"So? The only intelligent move I made in this affair. I thought I was so smart, figuring out that you would be paying me a visit. Do you know, I had the dome shield rigged to collapse after a shot or two from your big ships?"
"Indeed? I like my way better."
"Of course it was better! I should have known that you would not kill a city to get at the thing, but how was I to know that you would come up the drain?" He paused for a moment. "Did you, by any chance, happen to run across Don?"
"Yes, we met."
"And you shot him?"
"I had my duty," the Starwolf explained. "He ran from me, and I shot him in the back. I do not know if he survived, but he did disappear while we were preoccupied with other matters. Either he crawled out the door, or someone came to collect him."
"I suppose that I would have to collect all the king's horses and all the king's men and go look for him," the Councdor mused, then grew serious. "You know, perhaps, that he set up the test date on our new weapon to trap you? Well, there is something else you should know. I dread having to tell you, but I do not want Don – if he is still alive – to use it as a weapon to hurt you sometime in the future.
"You see, we know that he killed Dveyella. Her body was intercepted and sent to me on a courier. Of course, I recognized her at once, and I knew that she was special to you. Now, before you send your fighters back to get me, I must tell you that I allowed no one to touch the body. I had it delivered into our sun, according to your own ritual, and attended the ceremony myself. I do hope that you can forgive me. Don may have already payed for it with his life."
"Such payment is of no value to me," Velmeran replied evenly. "Dveyella is avenged in a way that would mean something to her."
"I imagine so," the Councilor agreed hesitantly. "Then I do not think that we will ever meet again. Farewell, my young friend. I wish that you were on my side. No, I take that back. I wish that I was on your side."
"Farewell for now, Councdor," Velmeran replied. "You would hear from me from time to time."
"Ah, yes. That is exactiy what I am afraid of," Lake muttered as his link began to fail.
Velmeran sighed and leaned back heavily in the chair as Korleran reached over him to return communications back to monitoring their own ships. She glanced down at him tolerantly. "Captain, I have work to do."
He opened his eyes to look up at her. "Can you get me up?"
"I can," Consherra said, and hooked a hand under each of his arms to haul him unceremoniously out of the seat. As soon as Velmeran was able to stand, he brushed her away impatiently.
"I can walk!" he insisted. "Why should I be any more tired than the pilots who flew under me?"
"Because you have been under the stress of responsibility for those pilots and their mission," Valthyrra replied. "I doubt that you have rested in days, not since the morning when you first tried to fly underwater. And perhaps not for days before that."
"Which, I suspect, is true," Mayelna added, turning him in the direction of the lift. "Your mission is complete, so rest while you can. We will be making a nine-hour jump to a system where we can straighten out our affairs in peace, and we will not need you until then. Consherra, would you take him to his cabin, un-can him and see that he gets the rest he needs?"
"Actually, I believe Consherra is due to go off duty herself," Valthyrra observed.
"I am?" she asked, pausing to look back. That was not what she believed. Then she understood, and brightened. "Thank you!"
Mayelna glanced up. "Are they..."
The camera pod made a shrugging motion. "I think so."
Consherra led Velmeran to the lift and sped them on their way. As soon as the lift was in motion, she began to remove his gloves, stacking them inside the helmet she carried. He had ceased to protest, for his strength was again fading fast. Valthyrra had been right. In a sense, he had been fighting this battle since Dveyella had died. Now he was tired, and there was only one cure for that – as reluctant as he was to admit it.
"I might just leave you in that suit and lean you against the wall," Consherra observed, reaching that same conclusion. "Meran, the only cure for this is a few hours of sleep."
"I know,
" he agreed weakly. "I do not think that I could avoid it if I had to. But I do not like it... and I am afraid."
Consherra nodded. "I understand. It is not a pleasant thing, for all the good it does. I would stay with you, if you like. You do not have to be alone."
The lift slowed to a stop and the two stepped out. Then they paused and looked about, since they were not where they expected to be.
"This is not my corridor," Velmeran observed.
"No, it is mine," Consherra said, taking his arm to lead him on. "This is my cabin, over here. Valthyrra never misses a thing. No one is going to come looking for you here."
She started to lead the way, but when Velmeran hesitated she turned to glance back at him. She looked sad and defeated. "I would leave you alone, if that is what you want."
"I do not want to be alone," he said uncertainly. "I have had enough of being alone."
"This is for you to decide," she told him. "I wish that I might be the cure for your loneliness. I have been lonely myself, lately. But I would not try to be Dveyella and beg the love you had for her. Perhaps it is too soon."
"A day or a year, it would make no difference," Velmeran insisted. "I do not want someone to take Dveyella's place; that would be false. I do not love you, not the way you want. But I think that I do love you; I do know that you make me feel very calm and comfortable. I need time. Love me and I would love you in return, I can promise you that."
She nodded. "We would accept each other on our own terms, and I believe that we would work out a comfortable compromise. Will you come with me now?"
"I will," he said, taking the hand she offered. "Although I cannot imagine what pleasure you might find in my company just now."
Consherra smiled and drew him close. "As strange as it might seem, nothing would give me greater pleasure than to hold you in my arms and keep away your worries and fears while you sleep."
The Starwolves Page 26
