"Turn me over? Captain, please, you can't turn me over to them. They'll kill me. I escaped custody once, and escapees are automatically beheaded when recaptured. You and I are on the same side. I'm part of the Rebel cause, trying to rid this nation of its ruthless dictators."
"We're not on the same side, Mr. Blethque. There are more than two sides in this particular game. Take him away, Staff Sergeant."
The Staff Sergeant had to pick Blethque up bodily and carry him away. Blethque screamed insults about Space Command, which echoed in the corridor until he was too far away to be heard.
"An escaped gunrunner? That might be someone the Qummuc would pursue vigorously," Dennier said.
"Yes, but I want whoever he's protecting."
"You really think there's someone higher up still on that yacht?"
"Yes. Possibly more than one. He said he's part of the Rebel movement, and while Blethque might be a good little Rebel soldier, he's certainly no mastermind. I want the person who pulls his strings."
"He said there's fifteen more still aboard that yacht, but I'd bet on twice that many."
"So would I. If that ship is being used by the Rebels to run guns, there might be fifteen support people, but there has to be at least a dozen Rebel soldiers aboard as well. The problem is that we'll run into massive fire if we attempt to board the ship."
"You have personal armor."
"Yes, we do. So the only thing we have to worry about personally is RPGs. The armor won't protect us from them. The second concern is capturing the top person without him or her being killed during a gunfight. The value to us falls by fifty percent if the person is dead."
"Who do you think he or she is?"
"I have no idea what their name might be but I'm hoping they're as high up the chain of command as a battalion commander. They're certainly not going to give that kind of yacht to a lieutenant."
"Why not? Space Command gave command of the Justice to a lieutenant(jg)."
Sydnee calmly stared at Dennier for several seconds before responding. "Yes, they did. And I've regretted accepting this mission ever since they altered it and expanded the mission to include seeding satellites throughout Clidepp space. And perhaps because of the actions I've taken to carry out my orders, this is the very last time a lieutenant(jg) will ever be entrusted with a mission this big and this important. So I'm going to do all the good I can while I am in command. And if the Admiralty Board wants to rescind my promotion, that's certainly within their power. I just hope I'm not kicked out of the service or jailed."
"Promotion? What promotion?"
"Oh, I haven't announced that. I've been notified that the Admiralty Board has approved early promotion for me to O-3, and that I've been promoted into a vacant position aboard the Denver."
"Congratulations, Lieutenant. But— you're out of uniform."
"I haven't wanted to distract anyone from their job. There's plenty of time to change my rank insignia when we get back. In the meantime, as the duly appointed captain of this ship, I'm already the senior officer. Of course, they might break me back to ensign when we return with a thousand former slaves and a ship still full of satellites."
"They won't if they're smart. You're too good."
"Thank you, Colonel, but I may have been too smart for my own good this time. If the Clidepp Empire declares war on the GA because of my actions, nothing can save me."
"Then we'll just have to make sure your plan to divert blame and draw the Qummuc forces away from the embassy is successful. What's next?"
Putting up an image of the shuttle interior taken by the engineering staff during their inspection, Sydnee asked, "How many Marines in armor do you think our new shuttle can hold, Colonel? Someone aboard the yacht said it could only accommodate two, but that's certainly not true. They were obviously trying to get us to come to them."
Looking at the image on the large wall monitor, Dennier said, "It looks kind of small. Perhaps six, including the pilots."
"Six of our people in personal armor should be able to take two dozen Rebels with light weapons, although I wish Blade and his people were here."
"The people aboard the yacht may or may not be Rebels," Dennier said.
"True. All we have is Blethque's statement to that effect."
"And he might have been trying to win sympathy for his release."
"Yes, that's possible. Let's interview the other one and then see where we stand."
When the second man was brought into the mess hall, Sydnee gestured to the chair and said, "Have a seat, Mr. Hliprez."
"My name's not Hliprez. It's Aklerroz. Stasif Aklerroz."
"And I'm Gustallo Plelillo, the Prime Minister of the Clidepp Empire. How do you do?"
Hliprez just stared at her as he settled into the chair.
"We know your real name because your associate, Mr. Sleeques, gave you up in return for his freedom and identified you as an escaped prisoner convicted of gunrunning. He's on his way back to the Bluqcols in his shuttle."
"You lie. Rodhrer would never do that."
"Who's Rodhrer?"
"Uh, I meant Eroclis. Rodhrer is another member of the crew."
"I see. I assume by that lie, and by your reluctance to admit your real name, you're not going to be truthful with us. Is that correct?"
Hliprez just stared at her.
"No response? You have nothing to say?"
When Hliprez continued his silence, Sydnee summoned the Staff Sergeant waiting in the corridor.
"Staff Sergeant, put this liar in the other prepared brig cell. We'll dispose of their bodies later."
"What?" Hliprez said. "You can't kill me. I've done nothing."
Sydnee turned her viewpad towards Hliprez so he could see the image from the wanted notice. "The GA and the Clidepp nations have a decades-old pact to share information about wanted felons and escaped prisoners. We know who you and Mr. Blethque are, what crimes you've been convicted of, and the details of your escape from custody. When you and Mr. Blethque exited your shuttle, my people moved in and collected all the fingerprints they found on the flight deck and in the rear cabin. We've identified six different individuals. Yours and Mr. Blethque's fingerprints and images just happen to match those associated with wanted posters we have on file. Since neither of you will cooperate, we'll just save the Empire the effort of cutting off your head."
"You can't do this. You're not the police. You're not even supposed to be in Clidepp space."
"Take him away, Staff Sergeant."
After the Yolongi was gone, Dennier asked, "Are they going to see the package?"
"No. A special holding area cell was created for the package because he isn't guilty of the acts he was originally accused of. He actually has a lot of creature comforts compared to the barren lockers where Blethque and Hliprez will be housed. In fact, his quarters are four times larger than my office and bunk area combined."
"What now?"
"As the old expression goes, it's time to stoke the fire and fan the flames."
* *
"This is the Bluqcols," Sydnee heard through the overhead speaker on the bridge when she attempted to make contact with the yacht.
"I told you to send your two top people. Did you really think we'd be fooled by your sending two stooges posing as leaders?"
"Where are our men?"
"They're in my brig because they refused to stop lying to me, even after I showed them the outstanding wanted posters on them."
"Wanted posters. Who are you?"
"I'm the captain of the warship that's going to start blowing holes in your little ship unless you start cooperating."
"Stand by, Captain."
Several minutes later, Sydnee heard, "Captain, who do you represent?"
"Are you the top person aboard that ship?" Sydnee asked.
"I am the owner. Now, who are you?"
"I'm the top person aboard this ship."
"And your name is?"
"I'm Captain Bonny. Captain Anne Bonny."
"Well, Captain Bonny, what can I do for you?"
"You can get into a shuttle and come over to my ship so we can talk face to face."
"And why would I want to do that?"
"You may not want to do it, but if you don't do it, I'm going to start blowing holes in your pretty yacht. How good are you at breathing vacuum?"
"Not very."
"Then it behooves you to comply."
"I cannot. You have my only shuttle."
"I'll send it to pick you up. One warning though— and one is all you get— if you don't come quietly, I'll destroy your ship so fast you and your people won't know what hit them."
"That doesn't sound like a very courteous invitation."
"Our courtesy ended when you tried to play me for a fool."
"I sent two of my most reliable people to function as representatives."
"That's not what I specified, and you know it. Your so-called reliable representatives lied and misrepresented themselves from the moment they arrived here."
"Regardless, I'm willing to meet with you now."
"Fine. Be ready. I'm sending the shuttle. Bonny, out."
"Bonny, Captain?" Lt.(jg) Templeton queried after the connection ended.
"Anne Bonny was a famous female pirate captain on Earth in the eighteenth century. She was an Irish woman who married a pirate named Bonny and joined him on his raids. She was only active for a few years because women rarely reached positions of authority on ships back then. Her ship was captured after the crew got drunk following a successful attack. After being tried, she was sentenced to be hanged, but she said she was pregnant. Back then they simply took the word of any woman who declared that, and the court issued a temporary stay until after she delivered. That's where the official story ends. There's no record of her execution or her escape. But it's generally assumed she got away and lived to a ripe old age."
"I see. I thought you may have been referring to Bonnie and Clyde, the famous bank robbers."
"Not this time," she said with a smile, "but who knows how many other names of famous criminals I'll use before we get out of Clidepp space."
* * *
Chapter Twenty
~ April 7th, 2287 ~
Sydnee sent one pilot and two Marines, all in personal armor, to retrieve the yacht's alleged owner. On the return trip, the pilot reported in using a pre-arranged code phrase to show all was well and that they were in control.
Sydnee and Dennier were again sitting in the mess hall when the visitor from the Bluqcols was brought there. Sydnee looked up, pointed to the chair across the table, and then returned her gaze to the viewpad she was holding.
"Where are my men?" The visitor asked as he sat down.
"Under lock and key. They're learning it's not wise to lie to me. We knew their real names before they were even brought in here to be interviewed."
"You're Captain Bonny, I presume," the visitor said.
"I am. Who are you?"
"I'm Aderses Plelillo."
Sydnee stopped what she was doing and looked up.
"You recognize the name, I see."
Sydnee returned her gaze to the viewpad and keyed in the name, then touched the search contact point. Immediately a picture of Aderses Plelillo appeared on the viewpad. He was a few years younger in the photo, but it was almost definitely him.
"Yes, I do. I doubt that anyone in Clidepp space wouldn't recognize the name of the youngest son of the Prime Minister."
"So now you understand why I sent two of my men rather than coming myself. A pirate could claim a huge ransom fee for me. I didn't know you were GA.
"But you suspected it."
Plelillo said nothing.
"I know this because Blethque uttered the words, 'He was right,' as he entered the ship and saw the uniforms. He tried to deny it later, but he's a poor liar. I'm sure you could have done better for a chief aide."
"What are you doing here, Captain? I mean, what are you doing in Clidepp Space? I'm sure my father didn't invite the GA to come here and track down his missing son."
"Are you missing?"
"I know where I am."
"But your father doesn't."
"I don't always tell my father everything. For example, if you let me and my people go, I promise not to tell him that Space Command is operating in Clidepp space."
"That's not much of a deal. Other than the three of you who have come aboard, no one knows we're Space Command."
"My staff knows you're GA."
"I'd say 'suspects' is a more accurate term. The GA has been concerned for some time that things were getting out of hand here, and we've already seen indications of mass refugee relocations and ships of refugees headed towards GA space. Your civilian ships are so slow it will take years before it significantly impacts us, but it will impact us at some point. So we occasionally send ships to take a look at the situation and report back to Space Command."
"Ships such as this one? Black ships that cannot be detected on radar? Ships that can fly circles around anything the Clidepp Empire has in their fleet?"
"Yes."
"So we'd never even know you were out here— watching?"
"Yes."
"And you were responsible for the attack on the city. That's why no one saw anything."
"Yes."
"Uh, Captain?" Dennier said.
"It's okay, Colonel. I'm not telling Mr. Plelillo anything his father doesn't already suspect. That's why the Qummuc APCs are encircling the embassy."
"A damned waste of time. Everyone knows the GA embassy is deserted, except for a few caretakers," Plelillo said arrogantly, before the realization struck him. With awe, he said, "It's not deserted, is it? That's what all this is about. You want something to trade for whoever is in the embassy. And I'm the prize you've been searching for. You believe my father would do anything, pay any price, to get his youngest son back."
"In all honesty, I didn't know who was aboard that yacht. I suspected it was being used for gunrunning. But it seems I've landed a far bigger fish than I'd even dared hope." Touching a contact point on her viewpad, the door opened and the Marine noncom stuck his head in. "Staff Sergeant, give our visitor a separate accommodation near that of his friends."
"Captain, if you let me go, I can make you wealthier than you've ever imagined," Plelillo said as the Staff Sergeant helped him stand.
"What would I do with money? There never seems to be anyplace to spend it here in Clidepp space."
"I could give you enough to buy your own planet if you'll let me go."
"Take him away, Staff Sergeant."
After they were gone, Dennier said, "Congratulations, Captain. You've got your big fish, or perhaps I should say your golden goose. The Prime Minister will probably do anything to get his son back. You can spread some rumors that his son is being held in a house outside the capital and he'll send every Qummuc APC to rescue him. We'll be able to recover our people now."
"Perhaps," Sydnee said.
As Sydnee headed for her office, she took a side trip to where the three Yolongi were now imprisoned in three storage lockers. The ship's stores that had been stowed in the two-meter-by-two-meter lockers had been added to the stacks along the corridor wall. A Marine PFC and the Marine Staff Sergeant who had jailed the three Yolongi braced to attention when they saw her approaching.
"Staff Sergeant, I'm making you personally responsible for these three prisoners. They are not to have any contact with each other or anyone other than the people assigned to guard them. Your people are not to converse with them or update them on any issues. They are not to be released from these temporary brigs except by my express orders, and there must always be two guards present when any of the doors are unlocked."
"Yes, ma'am. Uh, it's going to get a little messy in there."
"Give them water, buckets, wash cloths, and basic bedding. I don't know how long they're going to be with us, but while they are, they're to get a change of clothes every three days. Their
meals will be delivered here. Also, I want a complete blackout on their presence in this brig. You are not to talk with your fellow Marines regarding the prisoners or discuss the prisoners with other members of the crew. If anyone has any questions, refer them to me, and report anyone who tries to get you to discuss the presence, status, or intended disposition of the three prisoners after being made aware that the topic is not open to discussion."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Any questions?"
"No, ma'am."
"Carry on, Staff Sergeant."
* * *
"What do you mean there's no response from Bonny?" The captain of the Bluqcols screamed at the com operator. "Try again."
"I've been trying every two minutes for the past hour. Captain Bonny just isn't responding."
"Dammit. I'm tired of waiting. Helm, follow the same heading the shuttle took."
"Aye, Captain. What speed?"
"Maximum sub-light."
"Aye, sir."
Some five minutes later, the yacht was circling the area where the shuttle was sitting, but there were no other ships there.
"There's nothing here except the shuttle, Captain," the first officer said.
"I can see that, dammit. Recover the shuttle and see if he's inside."
"If he was inside, he'd have contacted us already."
"Just do as you're told, dammit."
"Aye, Captain."
Under his breath he said, "How am I ever going to explain losing the Prime Minister's son? I'm a dead man."
* * *
As the Justice resumed its usual place on station in the solar system, everyone on the bridge was aware that Sydnee was a woman filled with inner turmoil. She continually stared at the large monitor at the front of the bridge with unseeing eyes as the prevailing burdens of command consumed all of her thoughts. It was at times such as this that she most missed not having someone in whom she could confide. Having returned with Blade to get the slaves left at the embassy, Lt. MacDonald was in the embassy bunker with everyone else who had been part of that operation. Blade, often a bit brusque and outspoken but almost always honest, probably would have made a good sounding board in a discussion of her present dilemma, but he was also at the embassy. And Sydnee had never developed the kind of relationship with Dennier that she needed right then. That was most likely owed to the large discrepancy in rank. And although surrounded by crewmembers she considered friends, her circle of confidants had to remain small with regard to shipboard matters because she was the superior officer aboard ship and couldn't afford to appear weak and indecisive.
Clidepp Deja Vu Page 24
