by Frank Carey
"How?"
"The League never had the chance to decommission the station, so it’s still connected to the InterWebs. She just needed to access the logs of the stations to see if my tracker signal showed up on any of them recently."
"We're talking about a major security breach," Treena pointed out.
"And then some. But the question of why go to the bother of killing a dead Lysan still remains," Tan pointed out.
"Let's go for a walk and see what they've done with the place."
CHAPTER EIGHT
The two Space Patrol officers headed down to the lower levels. The Algol station was a hybrid comprised of a standard space station partially embedded in a large asteroid. The rock was hollowed out and used as a vast warehouse of equipment and material used by the mines down on the planet. Algol Station's asteroid was a large, cylindrical-shaped iron-nickel rock about 500 miles long and 100 miles in diameter which orbited the planet Algol IV at a mean altitude of around 5000 miles. Over the years, enough material was removed from the asteroid to create hundreds of cubic miles of caverns, most of which were maintained at vacuum, though protected from sunlight and radiation. In a feat of engineering, a large hole was dug into the rock and the station lowered into it, then bonded to the rock so that ships could dock with the structure sticking out from the surface and use the station's lifts to shuttle personnel into and out of the asteroids interior. The station's unique structure had appeared on the covers of dozens of engineering and travel periodicals over the years.
The last level of the station before you entered the asteroid was known as the arcade. There one could find shops, restaurants, and taverns frequented by miners and station personnel. When they exited the lift, both Treena and Tan were shocked to see only uniformed Lysans walking around. In fact, even the shop keepers were Lysan. The only non-Lysan in sight was Treena.
"Who left the door open and let a bug in?" a tall, blondish male asked as his friends laughed. Treena tried to stop him, but Tan would have nothing of it. He walked over and stood inches from the loudmouth, deliberately invading his space. He looked straight in the young male's eyes.
"It has been a long time since I heard the wail of a child. Tell me, are you hungry, or have you shit your diaper?"
Treena noticed that everyone in the room took a step back from the pair.
"How dare you?" the young one sputtered. "Do you know who you speak to with such insolence?"
Tan reached down and grabbed the male's hand and pulled it to reveal the tattoo on its back. "Tell me, Silk, grandson of Canish, does your grandfather know how embarrassing you act to a stranger seeking only food and drink, or does he weep in his grave?"
"Who are you," he demanded as he grabbed Tan's hand and revealed his tattoo. He immediately dropped the hand and averted his eyes as he stepped away in abject fear. "Sir, I mean no disrespect to you or your companion. Forgive me."
"Leave us," Tan said from deep within his chest. The group scattered. He leaned over and whispered. "I've been made. We need to find out what the hell is going on, then get the plark out of here." He nodded toward the lifts. "The computer center is inside the asteroid at level 18. Keep calm." She nodded. They walked over to the elevator bank and entered one going down. Once sealed inside and heading down, he pulled back his uniform sleeve to reveal a multi-colored tattoo adorning the back of his hand. "Dammit!"
Treena looked over at the tat. "Wow! I never saw one that was embossed. How'd they do that?"
"It's like a birthmark, and it’s encoded in my Lysan DNA."
"So, what does it say?"
"Kalock Stor, Son of Stelgar and Prince of Stor. Basically, that loudmouth just carded me. I haven't seen that thing since I turned human."
The lift came to a stop on the level containing the computer room.
"Maybe he didn't know your history?" she suggested.
"Maybe." The door opened. On the other side stood a dozen guards and a woman with an intricate medallion hanging around her neck.
"Hello, Kalock. Long time, no see. You're looking well for someone who died forty years ago."
Tan went for the miniblaster he kept tucked in his belt. Twelve weapons went to full power as their owners aimed them at Tan. He raised his hands in defeat. "Hello, Nesta. You're looking well."
"Thank you, Brother, and I really want to keep it that way," she said as a guard disarmed him and Treena.
"Hey, watch the hands, buddy!" Treena yelled. The guard raised his hand to slap her.
"Finish that thought, and you are dead," Tan said to the bully. The guard looked to Nesta for guidance.
"Private, I suggest you listen to him. His temper was legendary. Hear me, all of you. No harm will come to these two people unless I specifically order it. Disobey, and I'll kill you myself."
"Thank you, Sister."
"You're welcome, Brother."
"Before you go, Sister. Did you take a contract out on my life?"
"Of course. The fool was to bring back your head or some other body part which could be DNA-tested."
"Why? What are you planning, Nesta?"
"You will see soon enough. Take them to the meeting room and see to their comfort. Brother, I will be joining you shortly."
Eight of the guards led Tan and Treena to an empty meeting room in one of the levels where they were locked inside. The room had amenities--cooler and head--which the two captains made use of. When they finished, Tan walked over to a curtained wall. A short search found a control pad which he used to open the drapes. Outside the room was a cavernous staging area dozens of levels deep and stretching out of sight into the bowels of the asteroid. It was filled with ships, each moored to a portable dock and held in place by thrusters.
"By all that's holy. The Lysan fleet, here in League space," Tan whispered. "Those big ones are heavy cruisers. Over there are four of six battleships I know of. Landing craft, shuttles, transports, torpedo launches... It's a classic invasion configuration. From here they can drive a wedge into the heart of the League. My gods, there has to be a million people out there in those ships, each a trained warrior with the strength of ten humans."
"Your people are going to invade the League? Why?" she asked.
"Because we need the League's resources to survive,"
Tan turned away to look at his sister standing in front of the door.
"You could just ask, you know. The League has helped countless civilizations who have bad days. The Crystallanian elves, the Olympians, and countless other people have asked for help and the League has willingly given it with no questions asked."
"You expect the people of the Commonwealth to beg a bunch of inferior races. We would rather die."
"Have you asked the citizens if they prefer death over aid? I bet they would happily take the aid if it meant their children would live to see another day."
"You are a fool, Brother."
"Maybe, but not for the reasons you think. I am a fool because I thought my death would mean something to our people, even if it was a death full of shame. I see that there is no hope for our people. I can't allow you to harm the League."
"And what are you going to do about it. In a few minutes, father will dock with this station. I will present you to him, then execute the two of you for treason. As for the bug, my targlesh are hungry. I hope you don't have anything important waiting for you back at the Cube."
He looked at Treena and nodded. "Your call, Captain."
"Damn, this must be the shortest command on record." She tapped her earcomm. "Rougarou, destruct one, initiate," she said. She grabbed the counter she was leaning against and hung on as something large and angry slapped the station with a vengeance, throwing Nesta into a wall. She slid to the floor in an unconscious heap as alarm sirens went off around them.
Tan hurried over to his sister's body and used her scanner to check her out. "She's out, but OK otherwise. He took her weapon, keys, and comm unit. He threw the keys to Treena, then made a call. "Royal shuttle, royal shuttle, t
his is Prince Kalock on emergency channel. Get the king the plark out of here. We have a coup attempt in progress. I repeat, we have an active coup attempt in progress. Ident squawk calophus sund pliny. I repeat, calophus sund pliny. Do you copy? Over."
There was only static as a reply.
"Dammit." He threw the comm to Treena, then turned to Nesta and aimed her weapon at her.
"Don't, Tan. She's not worth it."
"Are you sure? She might have killed hundreds of station staff and crew, not to mention the miners down on the planet's surface."
"We don't know that for sure. She's innocent until we prove otherwise."
He shook off the thought before walking over to the curtain and tearing off strips of material. He returned to his sister and tied her hands with one of the strips. He looked up at Treena. "What's it like being so civilized?"
"You tell me. You still hold doors open for ladies."
He threw her the weapon, then retrieved a scabbard from Nesta's belt. He slid its sword out and showed it to Treena. "This weapon has been in the family for thousands of years. It once belonged to someone who tried to overthrow a king."
"What happened to its owner?" Treena asked as Tan put the weapon back and clipped the scabbard to his belt.
"His mummified head is mounted on the wall behind my father's throne. I suddenly miss Earth. Can we go home now?" he asked.
"First things, first, Captain. We must stop an invasion without killing millions of Lysans. I promise, we'll go out for ice cream when we're finished here."
"Thanks, I feel so much better." He got up and walked over to the door. A quick scan showed only two guards standing outside on either side of the door. "I can't believe she's that arrogant." He took one side of the door while Treena took the other. He thumbed the door intercom. "Nesta is down," he yelled. He thumbed off the intercom. The doors opened and both guards ran in, completely forgetting protocol. Treena stunned one guard with her weapon while Tan took the other one with a right hook. After disarming them and tying their hands with curtain, the two pilots headed toward the door.
"Should we visit the control room again?" Treena asked. "I want to see Recklesh's face when she finds out you're her brother."
"You are so evil, Captain. I like evil."
They headed to the control room with weapons ready.
CHAPTER NINE
On the bridge of the League Warship Vigilant, Fleet Commodore Angela Thurgood watched the main view screen while her bridge crew worked around her. On the screen was an image of Algol Station and the Space Patrol Ship Rougarou parked against it. For the last two hours, things had been quiet.
"Report, Mr. Sylte," she said to the Vigilante’s Sokuhl first officer.
"Nothing out of the ordinary, ma'am. The Rougarou arrived two hours ago and is currently sitting there. Scans are normal. We have one ship inbound."
"IFF on the ship?"
"Unfamiliar as is the design. It may be Lysan.”
"What about the asteroid?"
"Science Officer..."
"Yes, sir!"
"Scan the asteroid."
"Yes, sir... Equipment, people, a couple of shuttles, supplies..."
"What kind of people?" Ange asked.
"Humans, elves, Goranthi, a Basili having a great time practicing barrel rolls... All league life signs, ma'am..."
Ange frowned. "Something wrong, Commodore?" Sylte asked.
"Just a..."
The Rougarou exploded with enough force to dent the station's hull."
"General quarters!" Sylte ordered loudly. "Set condition one throughout the ship! Weapons activated. I say again, general quarters, set condition one throughout the ship!"
"Captain, I'm getting something on the comm," the comm officer reported.
"On main speakers."
"Royal shuttle, royal shuttle, this is Prince Kalock on emergency channel. Get the King the plark out of here. We have a coup attempt in progress. I repeat, we have an active coup attempt in progress. Ident squawk calophus sund pliny. I repeat, calophus sund pliny. Do you copy? Over," came over the intercom.
"Any reply?"
"No ma'am."
"Commodore, the unknown has increased speed and has activated weapons and shields."
"Destination?"
"Best guess: one of the airlocks on the command level, ma'am."
"Who the hell is Prince Kalock?"
"Prince Kalock Stor is Captain Ohnat's true identity, and the King is his father. People, we have just stepped into a family squabble. Prepare to take the fleet out to the edge of the system..."
"Commodore!"
"What is it, Science Officer?"
"The scans of the asteroid have changed."
"What do you mean changed?" Sylte demanded.
"I am now reading over 500, heavily-armed warships ranging in size from battleship to battle shuttle. They are powering up systems."
"Belay my last order. Signal the fleet to lower cloaks and prepare for battle. I want all Marine units on standby for boarding action."
"That's an invasion fleet," Sylte said.
"Yes, it seems our family squabble has escalated. Navigator!"
"Ma'am!"
"Plot a solution and have all heavy cruisers englobe the station. Weapons Officer!"
"Aye, Captain!"
"Prepare to fire on anything that leaves. Comm, tell the other ships to prepare for a duck shoot!"
"Aye, aye, Commodore!"
"And when you're finished. Open a channel to that ship. Give King Stelgar my compliments and request a confab this channel."
"Aye, aye, Commodore."
Ange looked at the damaged station. "I think we have just set a record time for going from boring to shit hitting the fan."
"Maybe we can get a plaque," Sylte noted.
###
Treena and Tan stopped short of the control room and peeked around the corner. There were two guards watching the open door while medics and techs ran into the room. Corridor lights flickered and arced, spraying sparks up and down the hallway.
Shortly, the number of people coming in and out dropped to zero. The two captains stepped out into the open and fired their weapons at the guards, stunning them. They ran past the unconscious soldiers into the control room and found themselves ignored as everyone stared out the wrap-around windows at the six warships surrounding the station.
"Report!" Recklesh screamed as a medic finished bandaging her back.
"Commander, those are League ships, but they're not in the database. Our remaining sensors show all six ships are activating weapons and targeting the asteroid launch bays."
"They know about the fleet! How the hell can they know about the fleet"" she demanded.
The group shifted, allowing Treena and Tan to see Shaltz standing behind a control console. "The scan spoofer is off-line. As the humans would say, we've been made."
"Order the fleet to launch and engage those ships...!"
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Tan said as he and Treena leaned back on a console while casually aiming their guns in the commander's direction. "Those are Harbinger-class star cruisers. I helped test their weapons systems a while back. We used a Lysa-sized planet as a target--scratch one planet."
"You! What did you do with Nesta?"
"Sis is down in the conference room taking a nap with her guards."
"Sis...? Wait, she's your sister? Who the hell are you?"
"He is my son. Prince Kalock Stor returned from the dead," Stelgar said as he entered the room with a phalanx of heavily-armed guards. "Stand down, Recklesh. This coup attempt is over."
"Over my dead body, old man!" Recklesh screamed as a knife appeared in her hand. Before anyone could react, she threw the blade at her father. Tan instinctively stepped between the two and took the blade in his chest while Treena stunned the commander senseless. She ran to Tan as he slowly went to his knees.
"Father, it seems I am destined to die while saving your life," the captain said as Treena
grabbed him and helped him lay down on the ground.
"You're not going to die, dammit," she said.
"Medic!" The King yelled. He tapped a stud on an ornate bracelet ringing his left wrist. "This is King Stor. Medical team to the station control room. Prince Kalock has been wounded." A medic ran into the room and began work on the Prince while Treena held Tan's hand. "What is your name, young lady?"
"Space Patrol Captain Treena Salat, sire."
There was a bump as a Lysan shuttle connected with the control room's emergency lock.
The King activated his comm. "This is King Stor of the Lysan Commonwealth. All ships will stand down or I will vaporize you myself. To the League Commander, we surrender. Feel free to shoot any Lysan ship that feels differently. Captain Salat is unharmed, but my son has been injured. Stor standing by." He looked at Treena. "He is your friend?"
"Yes, sire."
"He has a knack on choosing his friends wisely. He will be fine, Captain, for my daughter was aiming for my heart. Luckily, my son is shorter."
Treena held Tan's hand until the medical team arrived.
###
Treena waited in the Lysan Medical Center's anteroom as the medics finished up with Tan. A tall, almost winsome looking Lysan woman walked in and introduced herself. "You must be Captain Salat. My name is Kelesca Stor, Kalock's mother."
Treena bowed. "It is a great honor to meet you."
Kelesca laughed. "You didn't even know he had a mother, did you?"
"No, ma'am. He never mentioned you."
"That is our way. Until today, Female heads of family ran things in the background. As primary matriarch of the Stor dynasty, I am never discussed with anyone outside the family, even the closest friend or lover. We are nothing more than myth. All Lysans have one, but no one talks about us. What about Martok families?"
"I could spend hours talking about my mom, dad, and twenty-two siblings.
"Did you say twenty-two?"
"Yes, your highness. Short gestation and a tendency for multiple births. The number of children vary by couple."
"Heavens. Twenty-two siblings. The mind boggles."
