The Final Sunset

by Trevor Herron

  ###

  “Madame Jeza D Belle it is a signal honour to meet you. I hope that this will lead to a better understanding between our peoples.”

  “I echo your sentiments, governor, I’m sure we’ll reach a perfectly good understanding of each other relatively quickly, although I confess to being totally mystified by what you’re hoping to achieve. Whatever it is it has all the hallmarks of catastrophe about it.”

  “I see no reason to discuss the where’s and whyfores of what we are doing except to tell you that it poses no threat to you or anyone else in the locality.”

  “Of course you’re right but it does arouse the curiosity.”

  “As far as our mutual best interests go I will lay my cards on the table.”

  “Please do, Governor Octarius it might just prevent later confusion but first let us make ourselves comfortable in my dining quarters and enjoy some of the epicurean repasts of Garino.”

  “You know my name. Many people on my own planet only know me as the Governor. Your intelligence must be really good.”

  Mme Jeza merely smiled.

  ###

  Forsetti Fry ate less enthusiastically than the Governor but then it was his job to stay alert and a meal of the calibre they had just eaten and wine of the sort they had just drunk, add to that warp-lag and Mme Jeza had painted them into a very tight corner indeed.

  Even though Forsetti had been more circumspect in what he had eaten and drunk he couldn’t say he felt no effects from the meal.

  As adviser and body guard to the Governor he would welcome a diversion of any kind at that moment.

  ###

  “I trust you enjoyed your meal. Our food is one of the things we pride ourselves on.” She didn’t tell him that most of what had been placed on the table was the booty from many ships despatched to fiery stars and many dead spacemen.

  “I’m not sure how you feel about it but I am not the best of negotiators after a meal. Perhaps like me you would like to rest and let your meal settle.”

  That sounded like the diversion Forsetti had been hoping for but it would also need to be presented with circumspection.

  “That sounds like a good idea to me,” the Gov’s eyes did look heavy. He turned and looked quizzically at Forsetti who gave a tiny nod. The Governor should be at his best for the negotiations to follow.

  “For my part Mme Jeza I usually exercise after such a meal. I find a good walk is about the best thing to settle the food. I would like to take a walk around your ship; escorted of course. I wouldn’t like to step on anyone’s toes.”

  “Of course, air commodore you also tend to favour an exercise regime won’t you escort Mr. Fry?”

  “I’d be only too happy to do so,” but the little hiccup that found its way to the surface did not agree, still he did appear the soberest of the officers tripping only once slightly on a door ridge.

  I’ve never been escorted anywhere by a psychopathic killer before, he thought. The choice of dress showed the leanings of their mental aberrations. People like these are terribly unstable. He might need to guard his words.

  ###

  Forsetti talked almost non-stop setting himself to walk half a step ahead of the air commodore. He was certainly not as much of an exercise buff as Mme Jeza believed. Forsetti had eased himself into the leadership role, opening doors and allowing the air commodore to mumble a few almost incoherent words about the function of that particular room before Forsetti closed the door and they moved on.

  From the corner of his eye he saw the boredom of it all multiplied the drowsiness weighing the commodore’s eyelids down. He looked as drowsy now as the Gov had. He watched the commodore’s eyes go blank and his eyelids flutter from time to time his shoulder bumped a wall and he bounced off only to stagger slightly into the middle of the gangway.

  With a completely natural action Forsetti opened the nearest door and walked in followed by the commodore. The room had a huge picture window overlooking an airfield and viewing screen for distance viewing. Interesting, Forsetti thought.

  Quickly he drew the commodore’s attention to shipping movements outside commenting on how efficient they looked.

  The commodore’s face became thunderous and Forsetti thought it was because of the room they were in.

  “They wouldn’t be like that if I wasn’t always onto the admiral about the lack of discipline among the Boltarians” he stopped suddenly and Forsetti held his breath.

  After a long moment he released the breath, “Boltarians? What’s that?”

  “Nothing really; just a class of reject Humanoids we buy from around the Constellations to use as labourers.” But Forsetti had already seen the different types of war ships parked on the apron. Fifty or sixty, at least of top class military craft all so different that they could only be stolen and certainly not the type one would trust to reject humanoids to fly.

  Tinker, tailor, soldier sailor, rich man, labourer, the parody of the old nursery rhyme echoed in his mind. Soldiers, mercenaries or assassins; most likely he mused. This needed to be pursued further. If it ever came to fighting the Garinos he did not want to be surprised by some hidden star ships and a division or two of Marines or Commandos, even a regiment of infantry could make a big difference if deployed at the right moment on the right magnetic terrain.

  ###

  The commodore must have been recovering his tongue developed some lubrication and he couldn’t resist boasting, “I might be in charge of the air wing but I’m also the best damned ship master there is. That’s why Mme Jeza relies on me so much.” He paused a little uncomfortably as if not knowing what to say next. Forsetti did nothing to help him out.

  “Those ships out there all have spare parts even though there’s so many different types. There’s sufficient fuel of all types and that’s thanks to me… Hey how would you like to join with us?

  Look if you want to I could get you in with her ladyship. You won’t be sorry,” that sounded a little like something to say rather than a genuine offer and Forsetti said so. That forced him to embellish on his offer if he wanted his boast about Mme Jeza to stick, “You don’t have to accept any of that looking evil shit if you don’t want to and I reckon a guy like you is not likely to go for that kind of shit anyway. We could use somebody like you.”

  “In what capacity?”

  “Well I could place you in charge of the whole Boltarian wing. They’re brave enough but need someone like you to sharpen them up. They’re more of a fierce rabble right now than a fighting force.”

  There it was again; a reference to fighting and war where surely none should exist.

  “I reckon you could turn them into a sharp force. I just don’t have the time for it.”

  Why should a travelling funfair and brothel require a fighting wing and warships? Was it that dangerous out there? Forsetti doubted it.

  Forsetti noticed that the lacklustre look in the commodore’s eyes was rapidly being over taken by a revitalized sparkle. I’d better get what information I can while I can get it he determined.

  The commodore ceased his ramblings and was looking around with a puzzled expression. Forsetti Fry took the opportunity to see what was on the viewing screen it made no difference now if the commodore saw what he was up to he had to get as much information as possible. He twisted knobs on the viewing screens.

  The viewing screens showed they had access to some very sensitive locations on Earth and Mars. It didn’t look as if they were aware of the importance of Titan and Uranus or the Kuiper belt. Maybe their surveillance equipment could not function to that distance

  “See that ship over there that’s a B…” he stopped, eyes bulging as he saw what Forsetti was looking at, “How the hell did we get in here?” he demanded.

  “Why! You brought us in,” Forsetti said innocently.

  “Well this is off limits. I’ll escort you back
to your quarters,” he snapped, “The walk is over.”

  Somehow he didn’t think that the marshal would report the incident to Mme Jeza. She wouldn’t overlook an error of that sort.

  ###

  The air commodore and Forsetti had scarcely disappeared down the companionway than the Gov staggered out a side room door and flopped heavily into an arm chair. Everything doubled itself in surreal changing focus and his head felt thick and his hands were all thumbs as he struggled to stay upright and keep his thoughts on track.

  He forced himself to his feet but the room started spinning, gaining momentum with each revolution, faster and faster and he felt the start of nausea; everything became a whirligig of formless, horizontal lines, light and colour interspersed with death deep blackness and just when he thought his head would burst his stomach regurgitated its contents and he fell face first into it.

  He shuddered in a muscle wrenching spasm and with a final arching of his back he died.

  Mme Jeza gave him a scornful smirk, “Well governor you have just had your first lesson in diplomacy at consular level, the five-constellation’s way.”

  She turned on her staff officers, “Get this mess cleaned up and get rid of that.” She indicated the governor’s body scornfully, “Throw him out and set him on a course for his own sun.

  A pity that Fry fellow didn’t drink any of the wine. It would have been almost all over by now, “Well what are you waiting for?” She screeched at the open mouthed goons who stared back at her, “Get it done before I make you useless idiots clean it up with your tongues and she screeched in mindless laughter as they scuttled out to get servants to do the cleaning.

  They had always been in awe of Mme Jeza but now their awe turned to terror. That she was evil everyone knew but her laugh was demonic and a ship with demons aboard it was bound to succumbed to disaster.

  ###

  “Where is he?” Forsetti Fry demanded angrily

  “I’m sorry Mr. Fry I just don’t know. He was here when you went for your walk and I retired to my chambers. The first I knew he was missing was when you burst in demanding to know the whereabouts of your governor.

  “I’ll institute a camera search first but you won’t be allowed to standby. You can understand that we have our secrets as well. I’ll have you escorted to somewhere you can wait in comfort.”

  Mme Jeza stood with her head surrounded and blanked out by a darkened porthole behind her. Something floated by lit by light waves from the sun striking it. He needed no explanation. Now he knew where the Sec Gen was. Hatred filled him but Forsetti had always been a good poker player and despite the turmoil in his heart he never let it show on his face.

  “I have a better idea; the most comfortable waiting room will be with my men and in our space craft cleared for take-off so that when you find the Governor we can get on our way immediately.”

  “Is that really necessary Mr. Fry? We haven’t even started any negotiations yet and that was the purpose of you coming here in the first place, not so? Do you really have to be so paranoid about a man under the influence of alcohol? I don’t think it’s any more than that.”

  “Madame I don’t care what you think but I think that these talks are terminated before they start. I know the man and this is totally out of character for him. He means too much to us and his safety comes first.”

  “Very well, if it means so much to you the air commander will escort you to your ship. Your men will be along shortly. If you need me I am always available.”

  His men would be along shortly? They should have been on sentry duty around the clock. What goes on here? Did this woman think she could hold them to ransom?

  Not ransom but on the wrong foot. The military were not prepared and this bitch knew it. She knew more of their operations than the Solarians knew of the Garino’s operations.

  It wouldn’t work; he hoped she had noted what had happened to those youngsters. What made her think that the Solarian’s forces would treat two men and six Humanoids any differently? Surely, she must know he had weapons in his ship and the ability to communicate with his base? Did she think they were still in the stone age?

  She needed him alive, that much he knew. With drug technology, they would have him singing like a canary once they started questioning him. For the time being he was thwarting her plans.

  ###

  Forsetti Fry was getting anxious. The woman had cleverly isolated him, the Governor was on his way to incineration and a detachment of specialist troops was missing. He could feel a trap closing in around him. If they attacked now Solaria would be in trouble. Civilly leaderless and with one of their most able men being held in commudicato. Who would take control? The military would be understandably slow to react. For the first time he feared for his homeland. Was he overlooking something he could do?

  He checked the ship’s light/sound frequency system. It was not working He wouldn’t be communicating with that any more. She had left all the short distance communication systems intact. Why? Those were the battle frequencies The only reason he could think of was that she would want to keep communications with him open. That made sense, if she was going to keep him alive.

  Again the question was; why? With the Gov dead Forsetti carried more authority than anyone else in Solaria, but he was not on Solaria. True! Was she hoping that having him in confines would stop the Solarians from shooting them out of the sky. She didn’t know the Solarians as well as she hoped.

  Not likely; information regarding Space-ship Solaria was the most likely reason. The Garinos were completely out-gunned and faced a much superior technology. Surely she wouldn’t be so stupid as to go to war against them?

  Then again she just might, between her and her so called advisers there was enough evil insanity for them to do what is least expected. Casting his mind back through history he remembered a man called Adolf Hitler. Well he was dealing with the female version of that man.

  That he had seen the Gov’s body was no accident, he knew that now. She always seemed a step ahead. Blast the infernal woman! He worked things out at a rate of too little and too late. Her demonstration and organization was cleverly displayed.

  ##

  Weapons! Of course; the Gov ensured they had a plentiful stock. He checked the ship’s armoury and magazines. It had only one internally mounted miniature canon control-mech left and a 100,000 rounds of Super-intensity UV light blasters.

  She had said she was available, no doubt to witness his death. She was toying with him. What did she have in mind? Capturing him as the first step toward capturing Planet Earth.

  Sitting behind the controls of an almost unarmed space ship waiting for men he knew would never turn up did little for his sense of security. No word of his men and hot tears in his eyes when he thought of the Governor. Time to go on the offensive.

  She had out-maneuvered him at every turn. If he was the senior survivor, he owed it to his people that he at least gets away. He had no intention of being dragged home as a pathetic prisoner helplessly selling his people out.

  He checked the armoury and the ship once more and found electron canons fitted amidships on both port and starboard sides but he had only one firing-mech and one person to pilot and fire weapons.

  “Okay you bastards,” he said softly to himself, “I’m ready to rumble.”

  He knew something they did not. Thank God for small mercies 100,000 shots they had left him, that was at least the firepower of ten or twenty of their ships. He wondered if they knew that all Electron weapons had to be code activated before they could fire the UV intensified beam or it would self-destruct and only he and the Gov had a code activator. She was bound to use civilians as a pressure point once she found out about the code.

  The guns were easy to use and efficient if the code was known; fatal, if not. The trouble with codes was that they got figured out sooner or later. The guns the Garinos
had taken would have to be recovered or one day they would crack the code, this was not a weapon to fall into the wrong hands. He decided to wait another five minutes and then he would let the games begin.

  Mme Jeza’s voice came over his Comsys, “Mr. Fry. we’ve found your Governor but I’m afraid it’s not good news. I’ll send someone down to escort you.”

  “I am not surprised to know that the news is not good because the last I saw of him was floating past a porthole on his way to the sun. And Madam you will come to me in person and I expect to see my bodyguard detachment with you. Oh yes, I don’t like guns pointed in my direction.”

  “Mr. Fry do you think we would do you any harm?” Honey was never so sweet, “But I will tell you this much about your Governor’s demise. He entered a forbidden area and the protective devices did what they were programmed to do.”

  “Bull shit, madam I do think you’d do me and my people harm. Maximum harm,” Vinegar was never more sour.

  “Mr. Fry that being the case why don’t I send in a corps of my men and take you by force?”

  “Because you know I am armed.”

  “Nice try Mr. Fry. I have all your weapons. You’re at our mercy.”

  “Your men are not very thorough: they missed several.”

  “I don’t believe that.”

  While he was talking he mounted the cannon mechanism on its swivel bracket and started his drives.

  “We can put that statement to the test. I know you’re anxious to try out your new toys; now is the time. I can show you how efficient they are. Select a target.”

  “Certainly, I’ve. Placed men, some armed with your weapons and some with laser guns. You decide who poses the biggest threat to you and take them out.”

  The landings were suddenly filled with armed men all pointing laser rifles at him.

  “Come, come Madame, laser weapons. What is this some sort of child’s game?”

  “Those, Mr. Fry are for you to make a selection from,” she gave a signal and men carrying Solarian rifles stepped out. The men dispersed themselves along the length of the launch pad. “You decide whether my men know how to use them or not. We mean business, as you can see.”