Gweyr (Stryker Team Book 6)

by Frank Carey

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  COPYRIGHT

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Gweyr

  Stryker Team Book 6

  By Frank Carey

  COPYRIGHT

  Copyright © 2017 by Frank Carey

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  League Tale #44

  CHAPTER ONE

  Captain Kalana Grenor, EMEF Stryker Team 1 second in command, placed the last pancake on the plate before walking it out to the dining nook where her bond mate, Hamish Alduin, and daughter, Anna Alduin, waited with barely controlled appetites. Kalana was a doctor, an EMEF captain, and a cyborg warrior, but today, she prepared her family's first meal of the day. "Lady and gentle elf, breakfast is served.”

  She sat down and partook in a wonderful repast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, and toast with porchiss berry jam. To drink, Kalana had tea, Hamish strong dark coffee, and Anna orange juice. They ate and talked as any family would on such a glorious day.

  "How is the new HQ coming along," Hamish asked.

  "We're almost done. As requested, EMEF Command got a lovely deal on a building in the Degreb DMZ. We stripped it down to the studs, added systems, then put it all back together. All that's left is paint and trim."

  "Who did you get to put in your systems?"

  "Mersa and Trent with help from Nova and Murph. They are incredible. Just walking around, you wouldn't know there was a top-of-the-line computer system spread across two floors."

  "Rumor has it that Glean and Mersa are an item..."

  "What's an item, Father?" Anna asked.

  "Your father means they are especially good friends. Yes, my love, they are an item."

  "And that's OK with the EMEF, being they're teammates and all?"

  "He's a civilian, so there's no problem. Anyway, they've both earned a personal life. Frankly, I haven't seen either of them so happy, especially since they both think the rest of us don't have a clue."

  "Mother, are you going to show us your office?" Anna asked.

  "Of course, sweetie. As soon and the team and I finish painting, we'll take you on a grand tour."

  Anna smiled, then said thank you in high Elf.

  "When did you learn Elf, Sweetie?"

  "Last night," the little girl replied in Earth French. Degrebian children learn at least a dozen languages by the time they reach puberty. The best explanation the League scientists could come up with is that it's their thing.

  Kalana looked at the wall chrono and quickly finished her tea. "I've got to go. The new CO is due in this morning, and I don't want to be late." She kissed her mate and her daughter before grabbing her bag and heading out the door in a dead run. "Built-in atomic clock, yet she is unable to get anywhere on time. Come on Sweetie and give dad a hand cleaning up the kitchen. We have a full day ahead of us."

  ###

  Kalana ran through the HQ side door and right into Mersa. "Sorry, is he here yet?"

  "You mean Colonel King? Nope, General Kurturk Called from the space port to tell us they are inbound." She looked at her wrist chrono as a vehicle drove up to the main entry. "That would them!"

  "Get everyone together in the bay and make sure they're presentable. Dammit, of all the days to run late."

  "Captain, you are fine. I promise," Mersa said.

  "Captain Grenor to the reception area," Nova said over the intercom.

  "Good luck!" Mersa said as Kalana hurried out to meet their new boss.

  She stepped into the reception area and found Nova and Glean in a combat synth body talking to General Kurturk and a dark complexioned human Marine with colonel's stripes. Kalana corrected herself, he was jet black, a color she didn't think human skin came in. As a doctor, she had met every skin tone from the almost translucent to the darkest black, but never this color. It was as if the colonel's skin was absorbing all the light impinging on it. Then she remembered an article she read in the League's Journal of Cellular Adaptation Science.

  "Captain Grenor, I would like you to meet Lt. Colonel Titus King."

  "Captain Grenor, I formally relieve you of command," he said.

  Kalana walked up and saluted. "Welcome, sir. I formally stand relieved."

  He returned the salute, then shook her hand. When they finished with the formalities, she reached up and touched his arm. "Radiation shielding?"

  He smiled at her. "Yes, complements of Chasm McMurphy and the Crystallanian elves. Though my ancestors hail from Africa, none of them were ever this black. That's right, you're a doctor. In lieu of battle armor, I can survive twenty minutes in a radiation field that would cook a synth. No offense, Ms. Nova."

  "None taken. What happens to radiation when it hits your skin?"

  "The energy is turned to heat which I dissipate using the usual methods. May I see the rest of the team?"

  "Yes, sir, of course. This way please." Kalana led the four of them to the bay where the rest of the team were--hopefully--gathered. To her relief, the other five members of Stryker Team 1 were standing in the bay in uniform and standing at parade rest.

  "Attenshuh! Officers on deck!" Mersa yelled. She and the others went to full attention.

  The colonel and the general walked past them while Nova and Glean joined the others.

  The colonel nodded. "Excellent. Captain, I think introductions are in order."

  "Sir! Privates Nana Tor and Marcus Wen, our Stryker Specialists."

  "Sir!" They said in unison."

  "And this is Sergeant Murphy, our AI Network and Computer Specialist."

  "Sir," Murph replied. Today, he was sporting a Minotaur body.

  "This is Sergeant Trent, our Alue Infiltration Specialist."

  "Sir!"

  And this is Mersa, our Weapons, Communications, and..."

  "Hacker. Hello, Mersa. It's been a while."

  "Yes, sir, it has."

  It was clear that Glean was forcing himself not to move between the two old chums.

  King moved back and surveyed the group. "At ease."

  They went to a more relaxed stance.

  "I've read you files, and I assume all of you have read mine, so I'll keep this short and sweet. We are the first stryker team in the EMEF which means we are boldly going where no one has gone before. EMEF teams go into any situation and get the job done with a minimum of collateral damage. This afternoon, we may be clearing a robotic horde from a space station. Tomorrow, we might be helping find survivors of an earthquake on some colony. We have to be prepared for anything. It is clear that all of you have the skills. It's my job to make sure we use them as a team. Any questions?"

  There were none.

  "Good, then dismissed."

  CHAPTER TWO

  "Captain, the general and I would like to have a word with you before she heads off."

  "Yes,
sir. This way," Kalana replied. She led them to her office where there were some seats and a barren desk. "You've been watching too many of those 'Ancient Greek Warrior' movies, young lady," Kurturk said.

  "Yes, ma'am. I was thinking a plant-thing, perhaps a snapdragon."

  "See! I told you she has a sense of humor," the general said while patting the captain on the shoulder.

  King shook his head. "Captain, I want to start running calisthenics and training drills this afternoon. Will that be a problem?"

  "No, sir. We finished the training room first so that we could use it ASAP. In its current form, it can be changed from gym, to urban warfare, to Hogan's Alley at the push of a button.”

  “Outstanding. Who is our training officer?"

  "Sergeants Murphy and Mersa, sir. Murph runs the sims while Mersa works us to a bone."

  "She was always the athletic one," he said.

  "Tell her," the general said while cuffing him with a tentacle.

  "Mother, please," he blurted out. "Excuse me, yes General."

  Kalana gaped.

  "King hung his head. The general and her mate adopted me when I was five. It’s a long story. As for what I am supposed to tell you. Mersa and I were never lovers. In fact, we only met once, when I arrested her. The lover thing is a cover story, which is all I can say."

  Kalana snapped her jaws shut while her tail made alternating S-shapes.

  "See, not that hard was it?"

  "No, ma'am. Captain, General Royce Aymar and his wife, Princess Losira Irithyl are visiting Degreb as part of their second honeymoon." Elf queens revert to princesses once the new queen is officially installed unless they're Lenora who decided to go by Queen. "The royal couple will have their own security contingent, but I would like to keep an eye on things. Any suggestions?"

  "We can send Sergeant Trent, sir. He was born for covert ops."

  King nodded. "Excellent idea. The entourage will arrive within the hour. Make it so."

  "Sir! Yes, sir!" Kalana answered.

  "Captain?"

  "Yes, sir?"

  "Lighten up. I promise, I don't bite, and I was never a drill sergeant. master chief, yes; drill, no."

  "Yes, sir."

  "You're fine, Kalana. You've done something that proves you are what the EMEF always needs, an officer who thinks more about the corps than herself. This team was short a brick and you saw that, then you told your superiors who found that brick: me. You and I are going hone this group to a fine edge, understand?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Well, time for me to go," the general said. She hugged her son, and he kissed the top of her eye stalks. "Attention!" Kalana said as she and the colonel saluted. The General saluted back, then headed out of the building to her waiting conveyance.

  King shook his head, then turned to Kalana. "Do I have an office?"

  "Of course, sir. This way." She led him to a room down the hall from hers. Stepping inside, they found themselves surrounded by packing boxes. Picking through them was a striking Alue woman in jeans and a sweatshirt. She ran over and hugged King. "I love it, Darling!"

  King kissed her. "I'm glad you like it. Gotta minute?"

  "Of course."

  "Esmeralda King, I would like you to meet Captain Kalana Grenor. Captain Grenor, I would like you to meet my wife, Esmeralda King."

  Kalana shook the Alue's hand. "How do you do, Mrs. King?"

  "Please, call me Esme, and I'm doing fine. So, how do you like Degreb?"

  "Love it. Lovely climate."

  "Titus tells me you've adopted a Degrebian daughter?"

  "Yes, her name is Anna. She keeps asking when her tail is going to appear."

  Esme laughed. Like when Trent laughed, it reminded Kalana of water flowing across rocks in a stream. "It was good to meet you, Mrs. King. With your permission, sir."

  "Of course. I will join you shortly."

  Kalana saluted. "Captain," King said, returning the salute.

  "Sir?"

  "No more saluting, OK?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "And tell the others. We'll save the protocol for when the big wigs make an appearance."

  "Yes, sir. Ma'am," Kalana said as she headed out the door.

  Esme waited until the door closed. "She carries enough fire power to go one-on-one with a main battle tank, yet she's scared to death of you. Go figure."

  "She's not afraid of me. She's afraid of failing. The incident with General Nochmar spooked her."

  "And you're going to unspook her?"

  He nodded. She's got all the puzzle pieces. Now, all she has to do is put them together." He reached down and pressed a button on the desk. "Sergeant Mersa, please join me in my ready room."

  "On my way, sir."

  Shortly, there was a knock at the door. "Enter!" Titus ordered.

  Mersa walked in and closed the door behind her. "Sergeant Mersa reporting as ordered," she said as she stood at attention and saluted.

  Titus returned the salute. "At ease, Sergeant." He stopped and waited for a moment. "Well, go on!"

  Mersa ran over and hugged Esme. "Damn, I missed you both," the basili said.

  "We missed you as well," Esme said. You were the best agent I ever managed. Your efforts saved Titus' life."

  Mersa gave a nervous shake of her wings. "I couldn't just let you die, sir. Anyway, I've got a much better life here in the military."

  "Good," Titus said. "Does the captain know?"

  Mersa shook her head. "Only that you busted me. And there's the other thing."

  "The general straightened that out. Your honor is intact, now."

  "Thank you, sir. Are we going to ever tell the captain?"

  "Once we're squared away. She's earned your confidence."

  "Thank you, sir."

  "For now, we'll keep all this on the QT, OK?"

  Esme nodded.

  "Yes, sir," Mersa added.

  "Good. Back to work, then. I will be out shortly. And Mersa..."

  "Sir?"

  "Good job."

  Mersa hugged Esme, saluted the colonel, then hurried out of the room.

  Titus turned to his wife. "Need anything?"

  "Nah. Go and bond with your team. Oh, and wait until you see what I've done with our quarters!"

  "I can't wait." He kissed her before exiting the room.

  Smiling, she reached into a stasis shipper and removed a plant-thing. "Come on, darling. I've got the perfect place for you near the window."

  CHAPTER THREE

  The Ventosian Royal Transport Unicorn landed next to the terminal and carefully sidled up to the gate. As the protective detail prepared for debarkation, Princess Losira attempted to rouse her sleeping bond mate.

  "Royce? We're here, sweetie." She nudged him, then shook him, then tried kissing him. No response except for a loud snore. "Royce! Perimeter alert!"

  His eyes snapped open followed by him leaping out of the seat and landing nearby in a ready stance. "Where? Who? What?" He stopped and looked at Losira. "Don't do that! What if I had drawn my weapon?"

  "You mean this one?" she said as she handed him back his travel blaster.

  He took it from her and checked its safety before putting it back in his belt holster. "Yes, that one."

  "We're here," she said while hiding a smirk.

  "On Degreb? Damn, that was quick."

  "Sure, it's quick when you're unconscious," she reminded him. "Have a nice nap?"

  "Actually, I did. I dreamed I was with a beautiful elf princess. We were exploring a faraway planet."

  She kissed him. "At least you have your memory."

  "And my good looks and smile!"

  "Princess? General? We're ready," the captain of the protective unit said.

  Royce stopped and stared at the waiting airlock. "Royce, what's wrong?" a concerned Losira asked.

  "Remember when we bonded?"

  "How could I forget...?" She suddenly had a feeling of deja vu. "Stop it. You're giving me the willies."

  "Sorry
," he said. "Anyway, that mission ended on a positive note."

  "Yeah, I guess it did." Years ago, Royce had almost died saving Losira and her entourage from a gang of ex-military terrorists. He had taken a blaster round to the chest, knocking him unconscious. His suit AI had pumped him full of drugs which had saved his life, but had sent him into a drug-induced hallucination about being a prince in a faraway realm called Gweyr. He even wrote a book based upon the experience.

  They left the ship with the protective detail taking position in front and behind the princess and general. As the entourage entered the building, no one noticed the Alue watching them through a pair of stylin’ sunglasses.

  ###

  "Trent to HQ, do you copy? Over," he whispered into his earcomm.

  "This is Mersa. What's up, Buddy?"

  "The princess has landed. She and the general have been escorted into the terminal. Hey, does the general wear a wrist computer?"

  "Wait one... Yeah. It's a leftover from his days in the Space Marines. Thinking about hitching a ride?"

  "Why not? Has he been assigned an assistant?"

  "Not for the last thirty years. His last one was an AI named Parker. She was reassigned after he left the service to join the EMEF."

  "Great... OK, I'm in."

  "Did he notice?"

  "Nah. I remotely shut down the haptic feedback function and the external indicator lights. As far as the general is concerned, he's just wearing a bracelet."

  "Excellent. Just be careful. You can bail when you see that they'll be OK."

  "Got it. Trent out."

  ###

  Once inside the terminal, they found an elf and a Degrebian waiting for them. "My Princess, General Aymar," the elf said as he went to one knee. "I am Hamish Alduin, the local OffSec agent, and this is Galnish, the best tour guide in this sector, possibly on this planet."

  "Your Highness," Galnish said with a bow. "General, your fame proceeds you."

  "I have fame? You never told me!" he admonished his mate.

  She cuffed him for his trouble. "It is good to meet you, Galnish. We look forward to seeing what you have in store for us. Hamish, how is Kalana doing?"

  "She is happy, My Princess. Being assigned a commanding officer has taken a great weight off her shoulders."