Crineal Chronicles 1: In Hera's Service

by Raymond L Jennings

  Putting her cup down Strieger rose from the chair. “Well, thank you for the hospitality, Cyndora. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of each other. I know you’ll take good care of General Crineal. I’d appreciate if you told him that I visited and if you’d keep me informed if anything happens.”

  “Yes, Ma’am, I’ll do that,” Cyndora said as she stood as well.

  Strieger nodded to her and left the room with a deep suspicion of what was going on. But before anything else she needed to track down two pilots and make sure they were set firmly straight about some matters.

  The major marched into the Hera mess room to find three pilots clustered around a table at which sat Muscovy and Staller. They hadn’t noticed her enter and were busy discussing something.

  “I’ll take an average of four and a half.”

  “Put me down for six point two.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  “I reckon the general’s good for that.”

  Strieger moved quietly up behind them before announcing her presence. “Gentlemen, Ladies.”

  The five pilots snapped to attention. The two women and the man who had been talking to the pair she wanted looked guiltily at her. Staller and Muscovy looked like they had come fresh out of school and were totally innocent of the world’s corruption. Strieger thought they were true professionals.

  Muscovy spoke first. “Ma’am, a pleasure to see you back. We weren’t expecting you yet.”

  I’ll bet you weren’t, she thought. “So what’s the pool on today?”

  “Pool, Ma’am?” Staller tried for the misdirection approach.

  “Staller, give me some credit and don’t assume I’m stupid. It’s not a good career move.” She gave him a withering look. The other three pilots were visibly nervous. “Now, what are you taking bets on?”

  “The number of patrols we’ll make before our next stopover, Ma’am,” Muscovy projected complete honesty and Strieger didn’t buy it for a minute.

  “Really? So these two clowns think we’ll be running a half and point two of a mission? Let’s try it again.” She fixed her stare on the younger of the two women. Entara had just made lieutenant from pilot officer. “Lieutenant,” and Strieger made it sound as if that rank was in grave danger at this moment, “I’m sure you’re dying to tell me what you think four point five is a good bet for.” She gave the pilot a smile that had all the charm and appetite of a tiger that hadn’t been fed for a week. The major saw her eyes flicker towards Staller and Muscovy in desperation. “I’m right here, Pilot Officer!” she snapped out before smiling sweetly. “I’m sorry, I mean, Lieutenant.”

  Entara folded. “On how many times a day the general is getting laid, Ma’am,” the lieutenant said in a rush. The silence following her confession was deafening.

  Strieger stood there looking at the five of them, as she tried to find the words. The pilots were now all standing rigidly at attention and looking anywhere but at her.

  “Just when I thought you two couldn’t get any worse.” She shook her head in disbelief. “Kreltar? Six point two times a day? Seriously? What were you going for? The top end to outbid everyone else?” she asked incredulously.

  Staller cleared his throat. “Actually, Ma’am, the highest bet is nine at the moment.” His mouth closed abruptly as Strieger turned her glare on him.

  “I don’t even want to think about how you planned to get a count, so as to declare a winner.” Her mind shied away from the thought of what these two were capable of. “But this stops here and now. If I hear even a whisper of this again then I’ll be holding you two personally responsible and handing the matter over to the general for his opinion. I’m sure he’ll find it most entertaining.” The five officers looked pale and Strieger thought that Entara might faint. “Now get out of here and find something useful to do before you all find yourselves sharing a cell with Del’Tarim.”

  They all saluted and were gone so fast that Strieger thought they might be able to make the Annihilator’s sprint team. She sat down heavily on a chair in the now deserted mess room. She’d been back less than four hours and she already needed leave again.

  Chapter Eleven

  Crineal lay in bed, stirring a little but not really wanting to move. His bladder was telling him otherwise. He groaned as he tried to sit up, pain shooting all along his left side. Looking up, he wondered if someone had invented teleportation whilst he had been asleep. Cyndora was now standing by the bed and he was sure that she hadn’t been there a moment before.

  “What’s up, Crin? Do you need something?” she asked him solicitously.

  “Eh, I need to use the bathroom,” he replied, trying to swing his legs over the side of the bed. Wow, that hurts, he thought.

  “Let me help you.” Cyndora held out an arm so he could steady himself and then took hold of his right arm to help pull him up.

  “Ouch,” he grimaced.

  “Just lean on me,” she said as she helped him into the bathroom. Once in there, she helped position him in front of the toilet and then stepped to one side.

  After waiting for a moment Crineal realized that she wasn’t going to leave. “Uh. I think I can manage by myself for this part?” At least he hoped he could.

  Looking doubtful, Cyndora nodded. “Ok, I’ll just wait in the bedroom,” and she left him alone but without closing the door.

  Crineal found that peeing one-handed wasn’t as easy as he had hoped but he managed, even with the door open so Cyndora could probably hear everything. He’d hardly finished when Cyndora was back to help him.

  “I found you this,” she said holding up a long bath robe, “I don’t want you getting that gel goop over the nice one you got from Pallonus IV.” Putting it on, even with her help, was a task all on its own.

  “Bed or sofa?” she asked as she moved to support him again.

  “Sofa, I think. I need to check messages and the like.”

  “Ok, but take it easy. Tell me if you start getting tired.” As they made their way into the lounge, Cyndora continued, “Oh, a Major Strieger stopped by and insisted on seeing that you were ok.”

  “Ah, she’s back from leave. No doubt she’ll be in again to check on me tomorrow.” He let out an ‘oof’ as Cyndora eased him onto the sofa. “Any other visitors?”

  “No, just the major. She took a look at you whilst you were asleep in bed. I gave her a cup of kafe and she asked me about myself a little.”

  He considered this for a moment and wondered what she’d asked and why. But he didn’t want to alarm Cyndora by being too inquisitive. Strieger was very sharp and although she appeared to be on his side he was worried what she might have deduced. Cyndora brought him his data pad and then went into the kitchen whilst he started checking his messages. She came back with a cup of tea for him and sat down in the closest easy chair.

  “The admiral wants to visit as soon as I’m awake. Looks like we’re having visitors today.” He glanced at her. She was wearing another of the silk shorts outfits she seemed to have grown a liking for, this one a pale lilac color. Not that he was complaining. They were a heck of a lot better to look at than the pants outfits she had worn that first week. “I guess you’d better be ready to change again.” His data pad beeped and he looked at it. “Yep, he’s on his way.”

  Cyndora gave him a playful pout. “This is just a plot to keep getting me to undress, isn’t it?”

  “Nope, I’m just lucky like that. Anyway, it’s not like you do it in front of me,” he replied with a mournful expression.

  “Poor you,” she said unsympathetically as she headed back to the bedroom to put on her short uniform dress.

  Cyndora was easily changed and back before the admiral arrived and she was waiting to let him in. “Good afternoon, Sir,” she greeted him.

  “Good afternoon, Cyndora. You’re looking lovely again today,” he responded, giving her a suave but genuine smile.

  Cyndora blushed. “Thank you, Sir.”

  “General, how are you doing?” he
studied the injured man on the sofa.

  “Excuse me for not rising, Sir, and I’m doing fine.” He gave Ken’Rathel a salute. “You can stop trying to woo my assistant away from me, though.”

  Ken’Rathel chuckled. “I’m sure she’s not interested in an old man like me. Are you, my dear?”

  Plucking up her courage, she decided to try and counter with her own banter. “Well, Sir, I’m sure I could be persuaded to tend to you in your elderly condition, if you were to find me some nice tokens of appreciation. In the meantime, can I get you something to drink?”

  The admiral gave a bark of laughter. “I can see why the general here likes your company, and a cup of kafe would be good. Thank you.” The black-haired admiral sat down facing Crineal. “I’ve studied the battle logs, General, and before you even think about making your own report I want to say that you and your pilots distinguished yourselves. You have nothing to fault yourself on.”

  “Thank you, Sir, but I still lost twenty-five pilots,” he replied bitterly.

  “I know that, Crin. But you saved fourteen, plus the four scouts, and made sure that their data got back here. Under the conditions you faced that was a remarkable achievement. Thank you, my dear,” he said as Cyndora handed him his cup of kafe. “So I don’t want to see any self-recrimination rubbish in your report. You hear me?”

  “Yes, Sir,” he paused. “What’s going to happen with Ares?”

  “They’ve been deactivated for the moment. I’ve put out requests for some veteran replacements as well as the rookies I know personnel will try and give me. Then it will be up to Major Jolienze to get them into shape.” Ken’Rathel looked at Crineal a second to catch his attention and then, with a minute gesture at Cyndora and then to the door, indicated he wanted to speak to Crineal alone.

  Crineal took the hint. “Cyndy, Hon? Have you been to the gym today?”

  “No, Sir. I’ve been watching over you as per the doctor’s instructions.”

  “Well, why don’t you get changed and have the guard escort you down there? I’ll get another guard assigned to the door whilst you’re gone.”

  Quick to realize that they must want to talk in private, her response was immediate. “Yes, Sir, I need to make sure I keep up with my exercise schedule.” Crineal tapped the extra guard request into his data pad whilst she changed, smiling as he thought about her earlier comment of kept being made to undress.

  She came back out in her exercise gear and nodded to them both as she left. “Sirs, I’ll see you later.”

  Once she was gone the admiral put his cup down. “I do have one concern about the patrol. What were those Axes doing out there powered down?”

  Crineal considered it. “You’re right, it’s odd. Were they waiting for us? And if so, how did they know we’d be there? Or were they out there as a sentry post or some such? And if that’s the case, then why two full squadrons sitting doggo at such a remote spot? None of the options seem plausible,” he mused.

  “Well, let’s consider the first option. Who knew about your course out there?” the admiral asked.

  “Only Captains Trovas and Linenty were briefed prior to the flight, the rest of the pilots didn’t get the actual course until ten minutes prior to launch. I don’t know if the two captains told anyone else though,” he frowned for a second, “and Cyndora was there.”

  This piece of information didn’t seem to surprise Ken’Rathel. “Do you think she might have passed on anything to anyone? She did belong to a rebel cell.”

  “I was with her for almost the entire time between the briefing and the launch because of the incident with Del’Tarim. It’s possible she could have gotten a message to someone whilst I was sleeping but I don’t think that’s likely. She’s learnt some things about the rebellion that have disillusioned her more than a little. I will, of course, check the communication logs from this room though.” He tapped a query into his data pad.

  “Hmmmm… I’ll trust your judgment on her. So, if not her, then who else could have passed the information on? Del’Tarim? It’s in his interests to see you dead right now.”

  “Still don’t see it, Sir. Yes, he has cause, but I don’t see it as feasible for the information to get to him and then him arranging to pass it on.” His data pad beeped “No, no communications sent from this room apart from the ones I recognize as sending. I’ll forward the file to your terminal, Sir.”

  “So, a spy passing the information along seems unlikely.” He looked up at the ceiling in thought “So why keep two squadrons under stealth in the middle of nowhere? I can see maybe one squadron at a push, but even that’s a lot of resources to use on a sentry duty like that.”

  “Beats me, Admiral. I wish I knew.” Crineal shook his head.

  “Well, it’s given me enough reason to request a set of probes to be sent into the area. High Command has ordered me to stay on station here until we get the reports back from them. We’ll see if Intel was right about a base.” The general nodded. “Second matter is Del’Tarim’s court martial. The doc says you’ll be fit enough to attend in four more days. So that’s when I’ve scheduled it to start.”

  “I’ll be there, Sir.”

  “I’m sure you will. I have to say I did wonder if you really expected the trial to take place. Del’Tarim has the best political connections. Then, this morning, I received a list of the officers who would be serving on the court panel. It was sent under the highest encryption.”

  Crineal looked unruffled by the odd security. “Really, Sir? That sounds most strange.”

  “Even stranger is the names on the list. I expected a bunch of appointees who were certain to acquit Del’Tarim or at the worst give him a slap on the wrist.” Ken’Rathel said, looking intently at Crineal. “Instead the officers are all totally honest and completely loyal to the Emperor. The sort of men and women that will do their job and hand down a death sentence on Del’Tarim.” Noting Crineal’s complete lack of surprise, he continued, “So, General, what do you know about this trial that I don’t?”

  “Me, Sir? Why would I know anything?” Ken’Rathel’s stare was steady. “But, if I had to guess, I would say that someone wants to send a message that this kind of behavior will no longer be tolerated in the Fleet, no matter who your daddy is.”

  “Really? And do you know the kind of trouble this particular ‘daddy’ can make for the Space Corps if we shoot his darling little boy?” Ken’Rathel looked almost angry now.

  “I’m sure that due consideration has been given to the political ramifications of the situation, Sir,” Crineal replied formally.

  Letting out a breath Ken’Rathel shook his head. “I do hope so, General. Whilst I would be loath to suggest that the Vice Chairman is vindictive, I don’t imagine that he will respond well to the death of his son. I’d guess that you and the girl would be the first people whom he would come looking for.”

  “I feel that Lord Del’Herat is an honorable man, Sir, and would never dream of taking revenge when it’s clearly obvious that the fault lies with his son,” the general said serenely.

  “You’ve got something up your sleeve, General, and I wish you’d tell me what it is. I also noted that Lord Sar’Clax’s name seemed to appear a lot in connection with the court papers. Wasn’t he your commanding officer for a while?”

  “Yes, Sir. I served with him for about seven years. That was before the emperor made him a lord, of course.”

  “I see, and it’s just a remarkable coincidence that he’s taking an interest in this?” The admiral didn’t try to conceal the disbelief in his voice.

  “As First Lord of the Space Corps I would say that he’s exercising due diligence over a serious breach of discipline.”

  “I just hope that the two of you know what you are doing, General,” he said shaking his head. “This whole thing could go south very fast.”

  “Yes, Sir. I have complete faith in the military justice system and of the wisdom of the Imperial Council.”

  Ken’Rathel decided that he w
asn’t going to get anything out of Crineal about what was really going on. “Well, General. I guess that covers everything. I hope you’ll be able to return to duty soon, but until then I expect you to rest and get well. Let your young lady nurse you.” He rose to his feet. “Stay where you are. I’m sure I can find the door myself,” and with that, the admiral left.

  Cyndora left Crineal’s quarters and looked at the Marine standing guard outside, “The general has ordered me to get some exercise and said that you should accompany me. He said that he’d be requesting another guard whilst you’re away with me.”

  The marine consulted his data pad and then said, “Ok, after you,” he gestured for her to lead the way.

  She turned past him and headed to the gym with the guard following in her wake looking menacing. They arrived at the gym and she did her warm up before getting on to the cross trainer she preferred. Cyndora had just started her routine when the gym doors opened and a mixed group of men and women in gym outfits entered. She thought she recognized two of the men, one thin, one bearded. The six made a show of looking around before one of the women pointed to the row of cross trainers where Cyndora was. Leading them across the gym she stopped the group in front of Cyndora. The marine didn’t seem to be very concerned that the group posed any danger and she thought that he might have exchanged a nod with the bearded man.

  The blonde-haired woman, who looked to be in charge, spoke up. “We’d like to use the cross trainers. Would you mind if we took the three either side of you?”

  “Uh, no, Ma’am, of course not,” Cyndora replied, confused by the courtesy.

  “Thanks.” She turned to the others. “Ok, Mus, Stal, you get the two nearest the door.” The two men headed to the indicated machines. Cyndora nodded, Muscovy and Staller, two of the general’s pilots. “Entara, you get the other one on that side.” The other woman in the group gave the speaker a cheery nod and took the machine on Cyndora’s right. “Perl, Krel, you get the two on the far left.” The two men that Cyndora didn’t know took up their places as the woman smiled at Cyndora “I’m 1st Lieutenant Saphya, Hera Squadron. Nice to meet you,” and with that she took up the machine on Cyndora’s left side. Cyndora figured that all six were pilots and didn’t think that the way the woman with the long golden hair had placed the others was random. In fact they looked suspiciously like a flanking guard. She thought she’d try the theory out.