“Who is she?” Santari asked.
“My new boss. Came out of no where and the Regency places her as a Mistress of Intelligence.”
“What do you mean came out of no where?” Araman asked.
“I mean no where. She was supposedly an officer with the Terrian Military but then jumped ship to Oleander. I know they trade back and forth but Coco is a little different. She doesn’t come off like the other officers.”
Santari found it hard to believe. “She’s not corrupt?”
“Could be. She has a lot of pull with the Regency, which is pissing off some of the mistresses. ” Paige shrugged. She raised a finger as she flipped her communicator open.
“Mistress Coco, Paige here.”
“Go ahead.”
“Everything is clear down here. Over.”
“Resume your station. Out.”
Paige clicked her device shut and replaced it on her belt. “So you’re going to need transportation?” She smiled when they stiffened. “Come on, you're here for the delegates not so Santari could get a kiss.” She laughed.
“Look,” Paige continued, “There happens to be a few of us among the ranks who want the old regime out. I’m one of them. And if that means conspiracy with the enemy to thwart their efforts then bring it on. And by the way I closed the elevator door for you.”
“Thanks,” Santari shifted to the door.
“We need to get to the extracting weapon.” Araman spoke up.
“Good luck. Nobody can get near that thing. It’s sealed in a room with lasers, digitals and what ever else is used to protect it. There is only one way to get in, and unless you're involved in the project at this stage, you won’t be able to. Mistress Coco has made it impossible to get any information about it either. Security has tripled, and the team has been cut from ten to three, including herself.”
Araman heard his wristband beep a quiet alarm. “The extractor is not the focus of this mission. We need to get the delegates out. Our time line has grown much thinner.”
Paige reached for the door. “Follow me but stay back.”
Paige walked down the middle of the corridor while the other three hung back and close to the wall. They stopped when her hand rose just short of the second corner. She stepped back towards them.
“When you hear them run, get in, get out and I’ll meet you at the main door.” She spoke to Santari who gave a nod. Paige disappeared around the corner. A door was opened and closed. A high pitched screaming cut through the air.
The guards scrambled into the office, leaving the corridor clear. Santari sneaked up from behind and stunned the two figures. Paige came around from behind the desk furious at him and focusing away from the slumped bodies.
“You didn’t need to do that.”
“I didn’t kill them.” Santari waved his pistol at her to move a little faster. “They’re only unconscious.”
Paige headed for the door and punched in the code on the keypad to the side. The heavy door slid opened and the Novenian delegates dressed in formal long white coats stood as Araman and Santari strode in with their weapons aimed in their direction. The three men stared unfazed at Araman from behind heavy lidded eyes.
One bore several colored bars on his shoulder. “Commandant Diago.” His voice was flat as he addressed Araman.
“Greetings later Gentlemen, please follow us.” Araman gestured with his weapon towards the door. The delegates didn’t budge. He fired a warning shot with his phaser at the nearest white shod feet. “Move!” He ordered.
The delegates fell in behind Paige who was already heading out the door and down the hallway. Santari and Brea came up the rear ensuring no one was following and Brea was within earshot of the delegates. Araman took his position to the side as Paige turned the corner back towards the elevator and stopped mid-way along the corridor. She pushed against the wall and stepped through a hidden door that led to the upward climb.
Brea kept her ears open. She smiled every so often listening to them speak in their guttural native tongue. The delegates looked curiously back to Santari and then spoke amongst themselves. They earned a sharp admonishment from Araman to stay quiet when they broke out into a hissing laughter.
Santari was aware he was the topic of conversation and felt the scrutiny of the hidden Novenian eyes on him. “Psst Brea?” He caught her attention. “What are they talking about?” He dropped back out of earshot of the delegates.
“I’m not sure I understood their language properly.” Brea said honestly.
“What do you mean?” Santari raised his eyebrows at her.
“I’m not sure how your virginity became of national importance to the delegates.” Brea gave a shrug. “Unless my translator has malfunctioned?” She shook her head and furrowed her thin brows, “but I don’t think so. All the other words were clear.”
“My wha.…” Santari let the word hang.
“Your virginity.” She repeated.
“Should I be worried?” Santari asked with a swallow. His mahogany eyes slid to the white backs of the Novenians.
Brea broke out into a smile at him. “The color of your hair intrigues them. They think it means you are a virgin.” Her pale jade eyes danced with amusement.
“I’m glad you think this is funny.” Santari went rigid. “I” he put a hand on his chest, “somehow fail to see the humor in three grown men discussing my virginity. If you don’t mind, I’m a little sensitive on the topic of sex ever since Shinwa.”
“What’s the hold up?” Araman stepped closer while trying to keep his voice low but loud enough to catch their attention.
“Apparently my virginity.” Santari grimaced as he walked by his Commandant to his position.
Araman looked over to Brea who was returning to her post with a smile. He caught her by the arm. In silence he asked what Santari meant.
“The delegates assume Santari is a virgin because of the color of his hair,” Brea answered with her mind. She watched Araman’s lips pull into a grin. “I did not think it would have been appropriate for me to tell him they also think his penis is underdeveloped because he has small ears.”
Araman pressed his lips together fighting the laughter wanting to burst out. He looked down at the ground regaining his composure as Brea took her spot beside Santari.
“Is the Commandant well?” One of the Novenians asked watching Araman struggle to win the battle against the welling laughter.
“Yes.” Brea said choosing her words. “I said something that amused him.” She ignored Santari’s scowl directed at her.
With a deep breath and in control Araman took his position along side of the entourage. “Let’s go. We have a few more floors to climb.” He ushered everyone up the stairs.
The group had been moving upwards at a steady pace. Araman halted everyone the floor just below the main door. The delegates stood trying to catch their breath while Santari pulled out his scanner and keyed the setting in to scan above. He shook his head and called Araman over when the display filled the screen.
“We have run into a problem.” Santari showed him the screen. It showed a troop of dots lined up in four rows made up of five individuals. He looked over to Paige and gestured with his eyes towards his monitor. She stepped over and glanced down.
She looked up at him and then broke out into a smile. “Good, I was hoping they would be out there.” Santari stared coldly at her thinking she was setting them up. “Watch your screen, in a couple of minutes three transport hovers will arrive to greet the cadets.”
Santari’s eyes slid to the screen. A large oval appeared moving down towards the dotted rows.
“Commandant,” Paige turned to Araman. “ When the forth transport arrives, I will go topside and have the two guards occupied. How long does that stun from your weapon last?”
“Three or four lunar hours.” Araman realized why she questioned. He glanced to his wristband. “The guards will be out for a little longer unless someone finds them.”
“Eithe
r way, I can kiss my career goodbye.” She fluttered her eyes to Santari, “Looks like I’m coming with you this time. Okay, we have a bit of breathing room.” Paige thought for a moment.
“Third transport is arriving.” Santari spoke up.
“Bring everyone up when you see me on the screen. Bring everyone out when we are positioned on the other side of the transport.” She instructed Araman before she bounded up the last set of stairs.
Santari watched the screen. “There she is.”
“Everybody to the next level and fast.” Araman ordered. Brea led the quick climb.
It was a tight fit at the landing at the top. Santari gave the signal when he saw the three dots float to the other side of the large oval in the screen.
“Now.” Santari hissed. “Into the hover.”
Brea slipped out the door and saw Paige’s back. She was giving instructions to the guards before turning to the side and disappearing behind the vehicle. Brea dove for the open back with the rest following behind her. Within moments they were all crouched waiting for Paige in the hull of the hover.
“It looks like another navigational error.” Paige’s voice neared the rear. “That’s the third one this week. I’ll deal with this one, you get back to your posts.”
The hover began moving. Paige jumped on the back watching the guards take their stance at the main door. She slowly released her breath, as they grew smaller in the distance. No one took notice of her with the hover as she sat on the large metal step that also acted as a bumper for the vehicle. She stepped in and crouched down.
Araman turned to her with his weapon pointed. “What the Frigg is going on here?”
“I ordered the hover to arrive without any supplies as though it malfunctioned. I’m merely taking it back for repairs in the same hanger that incidentally has two flyers waiting for us.” He didn’t lower his phaser. “Look, whether Olean wants to admit it or not, we have moles too. It was only a matter of time before someone was sent in for the delegates. There is a small network of us who wants this to happen as a slap in the face to the Regency.” Her eyes cast towards Santari. “I just made sure I was in your vicinity whenever you were around.” She looked up at him, “if you lower your phaser I’ll tell you I’ve commandeered two fighters with loads of power.” She forced a smile with a nervous laugh.
Araman lowered his weapon to Paige’s relief. She stood up and looked out the back as the hover turned the corner. They were almost to the other side of the compound. In the distance she heard the eerie wail of the sirens sounding an alarm. She put her head around the side to see how much further they had to go when the ground troops started heading towards the siren passed by.
“We’ll have to hurry.” She said turning back to the others.
The hover reached the doors of the bay when the overhead began to ring. Paige jumped out the back when the hover came to a stop in front of two flyers. Paige ran to a large panel by the large hanger doors and punched a large pad closing the doors.
“It won’t be long before they figure it out.”
“Other entrances?” Santari shouted to her.
“Already secured.” Paige turned back. “Get everyone aboard the ships.” She turned back to the panel and put in a series of codes on the keypad. “Vertical takeoff only guys.”
An explosion from behind caught the group unaware. Paige spun around to see a laser fire come at them. She let out a scream and with her heart pounding she hit the last few numbers and hit the main control for the ceiling to open.
“Get to the ships!” Araman roared. He shoved the closest delegate to the nearest ship. “Santari, you take the delegates!” Santari gave a nod before bolting for the closest ship while the Commandant shot back at the underlings firing behind the blast. Brea was heading for the other ship and motioned frantically for Paige to follow. She was standing staring in fright with her hands over her mouth as though she was trying to stop something. Brea called again and waved at her furiously to come. A shot caused her to squeak, forget the other woman and run for the safety of the second flyer. Araman kept firing his weapon at the troop trying to force its way in while making his way to Paige.
Santari looked up just as rapid fire hit the hanger’s control panel at the same point Paige appeared to emerge towards Araman. Sparks and flares lit up behind her before the box exploded blowing a hole in the thick wall. She grabbed something from her belt and threw it to Araman. The smoke and dust blanketed Paige catching her in the fiery grips of the blast and pulled her in.
Santari stood up and pressed his hands on the windshield screaming her name as the engines came to life.
Chapter Seventeen
“Santari!” Araman’s voice shouted through the console. “Santari you need to move!”
As if made of wood Santari sat down at the controls and made sure his passengers were strapped in during the flyer placing its engines in preparation of vertical lift off. He hit the communications pad.
“Commander here, lift off in twenty.” His throat felt constricted.
Araman didn’t like the sound of Santari’s voice. “I’ve got the rear, make for open space. Following in forty.” He sat down at the controls beside Brea and prepared the ship for take off.
Santari’s ship lifted off like an arrow from a bow while Araman followed, gearing up the weapons for the dogfight that would ensue. Oleander flyers met their ships just as they pierced the atmosphere. Santari was already firing as he greeted the obstacles.
Araman came up shooting his weapons taking one out and damaging another. The two ships leveled out in a spin and headed for the Novenian fleet as the Oleander gunners came after them. Araman turned his ship about and engaged them as he went after the nearest ship to him.
“Commandant, I have tail.” Santari’s transmission crackled.
Araman’s flyer cornered sharply as his lasers took out an opponent’s engines. He targeted the ship firing on Santari and let two Nitron torpedoes take care of the problem. The ship fell like a fly hit by a fly swatter.
“There’s more behind.” Santari’s voice warned.
“I’ll take the heat. Contact Herse, let him know we are enroute to meet with the Novenians to return their delegates.” Araman hesitated. “Santari.” His voice was softer, “I’m sorry about Paige.”
The response was slow in returning. “Yeah, so am I. See you on deck.” He signed off. His ship disappeared from both the screen and console viewer.
The flyer lurched forward as it took a hit knocking Araman and Brea forward. Araman dropped the ship down and came up behind the Oleander flyer targeting Santari. Araman fired the weapons and flew through the fireworks set off by the enemy ship’s destruction. His displays were showing signs of power loss all over the ship from the blow they took.
The remaining Oleander flyer’s took advantage of the situation and went in for the kill on the wounded ship. Araman reinforced the shields as their ship sustained more damage in the attack. He locked on the torpedoes for one ship as he fired with the lasers upon another. Both ships were disabled and the remaining ship turned around and headed back for Oleander leaving Araman and Brea stranded in the sinking flyer.
Brea looked over to Araman. “Why is it, every ship you are in” she smiled at him “is in some manner rendered useless?”
“It’s my luck with ships and women.” Araman shrugged as he concentrated on getting the flyer to move to a safer location. A damage report informed him the internal settings for the ship were functional.
“Repairs on the internal combustion chamber are recommended for further flight. Manual controls are operational.” The silky voice of the ship’s computer spoke. “Life support is operational. Navigations are operational. Communication is operational. Shield capacity is at sixty nine percent. Weapons are operational. Definitional flow is damaged. Recommend repairs.” The computer continued with her detailed report.
“What the frigg is a definitional flow?” Araman muttered rising to find the internal combustion ch
amber for repairs.
Brea’s eyes were held to the screen, “What are those?” She pointed to five arrow shapes moving towards them. He turned around and looked.
“Oleander scouts.” He answered. “No doubt on a seek and destroy mission of their two missing fighters.” Araman eyes watched the arrows as they glided in formation. “When you see them break apart, let me know. Don’t take you’re eyes off the screen.” He moved quickly.
Araman pulled panel doors looking for the internal combustion chamber. He located the location towards the rear of the ship. The chamber was black from a blast but undamaged. Its feed connectors to the engine were fried crispy. Araman rerouted the glass wires until he heard the hum of the wires feeding the chamber.
‘Internal combustion chamber is operational. Definitional flow is operational.” The ship’s computer voice spoke up.
“Araman.” Brea spoke up.
“Frigg!” He swore knowing what she was about to say.
“One has left the formation.” Her eyes were still on the screen.
“That’s the huntress ship.” Araman said resuming his position on the helm. “She will seek us out then call to the formation when she has discovered us.”
“That way risking only one ship in the hunt.” Brea nodded. “It’s rather like the Raula of our oceans. The predator is long, thin and slimy, hunting in large packs when the waters turn cold. One will break away and find its prey then some how signal the rest. They surround and kill. It can be gruesome to witness such a hunt.”
“Sounds like it.” Araman took the controls. He stared at the image on the screen in front of Brea. “This is one of their ships we are sitting in.” He spoke his thoughts. “They will try to use its engine emissions to locate it.” He pressed a pad on the console. A view of the surrounding space showed on the screen. “So long as there is a moon between them and us, they won’t be able to find their ship. Computer, locate the closest iron core moon.”
Araman's Aria Page 23
