Peacemaker: The Corona Rebellion 2564 AD

by Gordon Savage

  Colt turned in his seat to face the crew in the back of the van. “I’m not convinced we got away clean. We’re going to lie here doggo and powered down for a while. If you want to stretch your legs, do so, but no lights and don’t go far. Be ready to hustle back. As soon as we’re sure we’re not being tracked, we’ll head for a safe house.”

  “If this van is space-worthy, why don’t we just take it up to the Invincible?” Ensign Leslie asked.

  Colt paused, “We don’t know where the Invincible is right now, or whether she’s intact. There was a nuclear explosion near her about the same time we lost drive power. We haven’t been able to make contact since.”

  The interior lighting went out as Orsini switched off the fusion power plant, and silence fell. Someone announced, “I’m going out.” The latch for the right side door clicked, but before the door slid open, Orsini murmured, “Hold on. I hear something.”

  A whooshing sound came rapidly up the valley, rushing past, leaving a wake of roiled air that agitated the leaves and branches overhead. Since it was without lights, Colt concluded it was a flyer trying to find them. Colt remembered the armed flyer that had shot down Howard Walker. A minute later a second flyer swept up the valley.

  “That’s two, Commander,” Orsini whispered. “Think there’ll be more?”

  “Let’s wait awhile to see if any more are coming or these two double back.”

  After a few minutes conversations started up sotto voce in the back. Colt leaned back in his seat and stared out the windscreen at the blackness. Gradually he began to make out shapes and movement as a light breeze stirred the leaves. A faint sound caught his attention. “Quiet!” he commanded under his breath. The crew immediately went silent. A branch snapped nearby, followed by a curt hiss.

  Thoughts of commandos wearing night-vision goggles sneaking up on them invaded Colt’s mind. He fumbled under the driver’s seat. Sure enough, a flashlight was stuck to the carpet. He winced as it loudly tore free. He swung it around to point at the open window just as the sounds outside reached the door. He flicked the light on. The beam lit a huge green face at the window with an equally huge mouth that let out a piercing scream, echoed by several voices inside the van. Then the face was gone.

  “What was that?” Orsini gasped.

  Suddenly, an image of a dark robed Lodaanii flashed in Colt’s mind. It couldn’t be! He acted quickly. Leaning out the window, he shouted in Lodaanii, “Jontaro, is that you?”

  A moment later the tribal leader of the Others shuffled up to the van. “What Lodaanii is with the small mouths?” he asked.

  “There are no Lodaanii in here,” Colt responded. “Do you not recognize me from Lodaro’s village?”

  “All small mouths look the same,” Jontaro sniffed.

  “Perhaps, but how many small mouths have challenged you and left you unable to find a champion?”

  Colt expected a growl, but instead he recognized the sound as laughter. “You did well. Now three of my warriors will walk through water. Perhaps you would like another challenge.”

  “No, but I no longer have to use crutches so do not think I would be easy to defeat.”

  “Why are you here, so far from small mouth lands?” Jontaro asked.

  “My friends were being held captive. We were able to get away, but we are being hunted. They have weapons, and we do not. We are waiting for them to give up the hunt, before we move on.”

  A tiny Lodaanii voice emanated from somewhere on Jontaro. “Jontaro, this is Leleaanii. Many small mouths are headed up the valley in your direction. They have weapons and are moving with great stealth.”

  Colt was surprised. He knew that Lodaanii had radios, but he’d never seen them use personal communicators. “How far away are they?” he asked.

  Jontaro repeated the question. The answer translated to about three kilometers. As the transmission ended, one of the unlighted flyers whooshed by overhead again.

  Colt hesitated a moment, but he knew he had to act and hoped this strange being could help. He looked at the shadowy form in the darkness. He chose his words with care, “We believe it would be best if my friends are not captured again. Could some of your people lead us over the ridge into the next valley before the other small mouths arrive?”

  “You ask me for help after keeping me from taking what I should have from Lodaro’s village?” Jontaro growled. Then he laughed again, “Why not? We are not finding enough gellen to make hunting worthwhile. Perhaps there are more herds in the next valley.”

  Colt immediately grasped the opportunity. Gellen were pig-like native animals. He offered pigs as a replacement. “Or perhaps we can arrange a trade. I will bring leto-gellen animals to you if you guide us.”

  Chapter 32

  Jontaro called his team together using high-pitched whistles. As soon as the team assembled, he and two Others led the way into the brush at a rapid but silent pace, with Colt and his crew struggling to keep up. The rest of the team followed behind, keeping watch and covering the trail the best they could. Colt hoped the pursuers were relying on IR sensors. If they had sniffers, the escapees would be easy to follow.

  Half an hour later one of Jontaro’s team radioed that the small mouths were fanning out to search the local area where the flyer was parked and weren’t pursuing Jontaro and his group. Jontaro turned to Colt. “Your small mouths are having difficulty keeping up. We can slow down now. Then my people will not have to work so hard to cover the trail you leave.”

  “Perhaps that would be best,” Colt agreed.

  After taking a moment to catch his breath, Colt asked, “I did not see personal communicators in the village. Where did you get them?”

  “We traded twelve gellen for them at Lamanaro’s village. They are all that are left that work. They have made hunting easier.”

  “I can imagine. Are many of your devices breaking down?”

  “Yes, for instance our fire guns can be charged but the fuel chambers are empty and common dust does not work to fuel them. Our weaponeers say that the material that fuels them is very pure and dust has very little of the fuel in it.”

  Colt considered for a moment. Most man-made blasters were fueled with cesium oxide. The Lodaanii probably used something similar. The Lodaanii weapons and communicators were getting old and not being replaced. Why was that?

  At that moment they broke out of the brush onto a well-worn trail, and Jontaro picked up the pace. With the more open surface the humans had an easier time keeping up. Even so it took another hour to cross the ridgeline and start down the other side. Before they had gone far, Orsini caught up with Colt. “Who are these people and where do they come from?”

  “They live in these mountains.”

  “You mean they’re natives?”

  “It appears that way, but something about them doesn’t ring true.”

  “How did you learn to speak their language?”

  “When I escaped from the rebels, I fell off a cliff, and some of these people from another village rescued me. I spent a little over a week with them. One of them spoke some English, so we taught each other.”

  After a brief pause, Colt said, “This whole situation doesn’t sit right with me. Billy Hargety helped me get you and the others out of that warehouse.”

  Orsini gave a short, barking laugh. “That doesn’t make any sense. He’s supposedly the separatist leader.”

  “Is that what they told you while they were holding you?”

  “Actually, no. They let us watch the news, and that was what several reporters said.”

  “Well, apparently there are competing factions among the rebels. The guy who was holding you was Radcliff Dixon the Third, and Billy has no control over him.”

  Orsini sounded stunned, “The Radcliff Dixon? The one who got thrown out of the academy?”

  “So it would seem.”

  They walked on in silence for a while. Soon Colt noticed that the trees were thinning out and the sky was becoming visible. It was also rapidly gro
wing light.

  ###

  The trees abruptly ended, and the party found themselves at the edge of a meadow between two east-west ridges that sloped down to the valley where Lindsay lived. Looking across the open plains in the morning light, Colt could see several farm houses and a glint of sunlight off the distant Flatwater Lake.

  “This is the rendezvous point,” he said to no one in particular. He turned to Jontaro, “Thank you for your help, Jontaro.”

  “You welcome my help now?” Jontaro asked. “It comes with a price. Do not forget, small mouth.”

  “On my world we thank those who help us, whether they are paid or do it out of kindness.”

  “We speak of pay. Where are the gellen you promise?”

  “It will take several days to get the gellen,” Colt hesitated. He was unsure how a Lodaanii would react to the necessary delay. “How will I contact you?”

  “Lodaro will find me.” Jontaro raised his left arm, moved it in a small circle over his head, and, turning to face up the valley towards the mountains, brought it down sharply to point straight ahead. Without another word he and the other hunters walked away from the humans and faded into the forest.

  Colt turned to the crew. “Take a break. We’ll be here a while.”

  Reaching into his jacket pocket, Colt pulled out his communicator, turned it on and said, “Call Lindsay.”

  A few seconds later the communicator blurted, “Gus! Where are you?” Lindsay’s voice was both anxious and relieved.

  “We’re at the mouth of Wildcat Canyon.”

  “You got your people out? That’s wonderful! I was terrified that something had happened to you when you didn’t get home last night.”

  “We ran into a few problems, but fortunately we got some help. I’ll tell you about it later. In the meantime I need you to pick us up.”

  “I’m on my way.”

  “Wait,” Colt interrupted. “You’ll need the trailer. There are fourteen of us.”

  “I can do that. I’ll be there shortly.”

  “See you in a few minutes.”

  The trek through the forest had taken its toll on all of them. Colt turned to Orsini, “Tony, set up a perimeter and have everyone relax. I’ll stand watch for our transport.”

  Colt plopped down in the tall grass about twenty meters from the tree line, looking out toward the open valley.

  The wait was shorter than Colt had anticipated. Orsini heard it first, “Gus, incoming traffic from up the canyon!”

  Colt sat up. “Everyone get under cover!”

  He jumped to his feet and started running for the forest. He didn’t make it. A blaster bolt ripped the ground in front of him. He jumped out of the way, veering sharply to the right. Another bolt struck in front of him. The shots were too well placed to be accidental misses. He stopped and stood where he was and raised his hands.

  The flyer was almost directly overhead. Its external speaker barked, “Good decision, Commander. Stand where you are.”

  The flyer circled him and landed less than two meters away, the canopy already open. From the back a man wearing camouflaged fighting gear waved a blaster to signal him toward the right front seat. He said, “Get in.” Colt immediately noticed the professional competency. These weren’t home grown rebels.

  Colt approached the flyer slowly. Just as he was about to climb in a voice shouted, “Duck, Commander!”

  Colt immediately dropped to the ground. A small object arced into the cockpit, and immediately a deafening blast shattered the air. Ears ringing, Colt stood up shakily and peered into the flyer. Both men were unconscious, blood streaming from their ears, noses, and mouths.

  Chapman came running up. “Are you okay, Commander?” he shouted.

  Colt shouted back without realizing it, “What the Hell?”

  Chapman held up a stun grenade. “I didn’t just sit around while we were waiting for those flyers to go by last night,” he said. “It’s amazing what you find hidden in a ‘legitimate’ shippers van.”

  Orsini trotted up with the rest of the crew. They quickly pulled the two men from the flyer and checked them to be sure they were breathing. Then Orsini began patting one of the men down. He signaled for Buchanan to do the same with the other man.

  “Tony,” Colt shook his head to clear it. “Be sure to check both of these guys for communication devices and beacons as well as weapons. Then tie them up with whatever you can find.”

  Colt waved Chapman over and spoke in a more normal volume as his hearing began to return. “Harry, I’ll guarantee this flyer has a locator beacon. Can you find it and disable it?”

  “Will do,” Chapman responded and climbed into the cockpit. In a moment he tossed out a roll of industrial tape. “This might help with the prisoners.”

  Colt ripped off a meter long piece and flipped the roll to Orsini. Then he walked over to Buchanan who was completing his search of the other man. He quickly bound the man’s wrists and ankles. He nodded to Buchanan, “Let’s get this guy out of the hot sun.”

  Soon both men were securely bound to a small tree. “These guys probably homed on your communicator,” Orsini observed. “They may have backup on the way.”

  Colt nodded. “Good point. You’re our best pilot. As soon as Harry finishes, take the flyer up and keep an eye out for inbound traffic,” he paused. “Just don’t shoot Lindsay down.”

  “How do I recognize her?”

  “She’ll be flying a dark blue van with a trailer module attached.”

  He turned to the pile of electronics they had pulled off the men. Besides their personal communicators, a rolled up computer, and their watches both men had two button-sized audio transmitters and military grade micro-beacons. Colt dumped everything into a pile. Then, using one of the blasters, he melted the pile into slag. “That should stop any transmissions except for locator beacons the flyer has.”

  “Had,” Chapman announced as he climbed out of the cockpit. He looked at Orsini, “She’s all yours, Lieutenant. I had to disconnect the AI so you’ll need to rely on the manual sight for the blasters.”

  “Thanks, Harry.” Orsini climbed into the flyer, closed the canopy, and looked back at Colt, who gave him a thumbs up.

  ###

  Over the next twenty minutes Colt paced impatiently. He had to keep reminding himself that it took time to hook up the trailer and fly from the farm to the canyon. Finally, Orsini announced over the loudspeaker that he had the van in sight. “I’ll lead her in.”

  A moment later both flyers landed in the clearing. Lindsay jumped from the van and ran to Colt. She threw her arms around him and kissed him. “I’m so glad you’re alright,” she said. “Oh my, I think I’m in love with you.” She kissed him again.

  She looked back at Orsini approaching from the other flyer. “When he pulled up beside me, I was scared to death. I thought sure the militia had gotten you, but he smiled and waved.”

  Had she really said she loved him? Dazed, he managed to mumble, “Yeah, we had a run in with a couple of mercenaries, but we took care of them.” He pointed at the two men secured to a tree at the edge of the clearing.

  Still overcome, he turned to the crew. “Let’s load up,” He said.

  Before they lifted off, Colt cut the mercenaries loose to walk out of the canyon, and in a minute the two flyers were airborne.

  ###

  Flying back to the farm Colt sat in the passenger seat in silence. He wanted to say something to Lindsay, but he couldn’t find the words. She glanced at him. “You’re awfully quiet.”

  “Sorry,” he temporized. “I got my crew free, but I haven’t been planning far enough ahead. I’m trying to figure out what’s next.” He broke off and looked at her.

  “Did you really say you love me?” he asked.

  “I said I think I love you.” She smiled, “but, yes, I do love you. I hope that’s alright.”

  “That’s better than alright. I’m crazy about you. I just didn’t want to push.”

  “Amelia,
would you take the controls and get us home.” Lindsay released her seat restraints. She looked back at the passengers in the van and the trailer module. “I guess we’ll have to keep it clean,” she said.

  ###

  On the approach for landing realization hit Colt. “Someone knew what I was going to do from the start. They were waiting for me!” he said, his voice rising. “The whole thing was a deliberate trap. How did they find out? You and Fitz were the only ones who knew what I was doing, and I know you didn’t tell anyone. And I’d trust Fitz with my life.” He stopped for a moment, mouth open and eyes wide. “That’s it! I know where the leak is.”

  ###

  Once on the ground at home Lindsay took charge. She immediately called Doctor Strauss and set about making the crew feel at home. “Who’s second in command here?” she asked, looking around the common room.

  “I am,” Orsini responded. He got up from his seat on the floor. “What do you want me to do?”

  Lindsay smiled, “We have two showers but the bathrooms aren’t big enough to handle everyone at once. I’ll leave it up to you to figure out who goes in what order.”

  She looked over the rest of the crew, “Whoever isn’t in the shower, I can start serving breakfast to you almost immediately. Anyone object to eggs, bacon, and toast?”

  Turning to Colt she said, “You’re going to be the waiter and busboy for this. You know where the dishes are. There should be enough for everyone, but you’ll have to expand the table.”

  For the next half hour while Colt carried food and dishes back and forth, he watched Lindsay admiringly as she flitted about between the kitchen and the common room. She continued to wear a cheerful smile as she answered questions and settled disputes. No, she didn’t have enough clean clothes to go around. Yes, there were plenty of towels. No one was going to be shorted. Yes, the clothes cleaner could handle all their clothes, but unless they wanted to go nude, the only thing she had was bed clothes to wrap up in. “Ma’am, we’re a coed military these days, but I’m not sure how it would affect your son,” Orsini observed. “Perhaps we could use the sheets and blankets.”