“That changes some things,” muttered Myra.
“Can he mount an attack on us?” asked Trae.
“Our intelligence here is lousy,” said John. “I could see that the first day I was back on the job. Bodyguarding you, I never even saw the problems. Now I can do something about it.
“Khalil has railguns and microwave, but no real gunships we know of. Plenty of transports with standard jump tech. His scientists are probably trying to figure out why the stuff he stole from us doesn’t work. He can still be on us in a month, but I think the Novas can take out his ships in space, if we have enough of them.”
“If the Guppies go after the invasion fleet, I’m going with them,” said Trae.
“I figured that much,” said John.
“Not without me, you aren’t,” added Myra, “and there won’t be any argument about it.”
Neither man answered that, figuring she could be talked out of it later on.
“We have three fronts, one more immediate than the others. As long as their embassy on Gan remains open, Galena can keep close watch on what’s going on, but they’re already under pressure to get off planet. Two of their people have been arrested as spies. Khalil is closing up, isolating Gan. He’s preparing for war. Galena is helpless, and Elderon has no military. The Novas and Guppies are it, so we’d better build’em fast.”
“Still the soldier,” said Trae.
“Still a soldier of The Church, too,” said John. “What’s coming is an abomination of The Church, set up by power-hungry Bishops. It wasn’t meant to be like this. I’m fighting for The Source and The Faithful, not the Bishops or even a planet. The Church was corrupt long ago, except for Elderon, maybe Galena.”
“On Gan? When I was growing up?”
“Yes. Even in the caverns, the priests ruled. Dissenters who couldn’t be silenced just disappeared. I had higher orders to get you out of there as soon as I could.”
“Orders from my father?”
“Yes. He never trusted The Church.”
“But you are his father,” said Myra loudly, “and now you want him to fight your war.”
John glared at both of them. “You two have become quite close, I see. Well, I approve, but outside your computers there’s a real world, and you have to open your eyes to it. The freedom you enjoy was planted here by Leonid Zylak. He didn’t come as a missionary for The Church. It seems that was left to Azar Khalil, and look what it’s bringing us. It’s going to stop—right now.”
“I agree,” said Trae.
Myra leaned against him, and said, “Maybe I agree, too. I’m not so naive as you think I am. The invasion fleet still doesn’t seem real to me, but at the least I want Azar Khalil punished for murdering my Trae.”
“I’m still here, hon,” said Trae, and kissed the top of her head.
“But you died horribly.”
“So did Petyr.” Trae smiled at John, and the man actually smiled back, then looked at Myra.
“Let’s start over. Hi. I’m John Haight, security agent, but a big part of me is Leonid Zylak, and that makes me Trae’s father, and also Anton’s. Confusing enough? I hear you two are in love, and I think that’s great. I wish you a long and happy life together. How’s that?”
“Better,” said Myra, with a hint of a smile in her eyes. “I just don’t like the idea of people dying in a war.”
“I don’t like it either,” said John, his eyes narrowing, “but I’ve killed before, and I’ll do it again for things I believe in.”
Trae looked into the man’s dark eyes, thinking, and just who are you planning to kill next?
CHAPTER 37
They’re gaining on us, Madam. The smaller ships will be on us in hours unless we make a jump.”
Grandma Nat sat rigid on the throne, her captain awaiting her orders when she really wanted to turn it all over to him. They’d played a kind of tag with the invasion fleet for weeks, had more or less remained on a constant heading to the frontier. The entire invasion fleet had followed their jumps, and a few ships had even reacted to the little test zigs and zags in their course. Nat wondered if the fleet commander thought they were commercial ships, or knew they were escapees from Kratola. In either case, it seemed they were now determined to confront them, and had closed to within a few light hours in the past two days. Small ships, perhaps fighters, were now racing ahead of the fleet to catch them.
This could not be allowed to happen.
“We’ll have to separate,” she said suddenly. “Get your captains on line and set up a later rendezvous. Each ship is on its own to jump different lengths in different directions. Pick one ship to follow and jump with mine, but not a ship that has any of my family on board. A ship with some technology we might offer up if we’re boarded.”
Her captain smiled. “Something minor?”
“Of course. I don’t intend to be boarded anyway, if we can avoid it. I’ll leave it to you to get us out of that.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Enough of the ma’am, Captain. Call me Nat. All the years you’ve worked for me, and I still can’t remember your name.”
“Ramon DiMarco, ma’am.”
“That’s Nat, or Natasha, when we’re not in such a hurry.”
“Nat,” he said, and smiled broadly this time.
In minutes, Ramon had contacted the other captains, and they’d agreed on a plan. A rendezvous point a hundred light years ahead of them was set, but most of their little fleet would make several closely spaced jumps back towards the galactic core. A smaller ship loaded with basic office systems and records would remain on course with Nat’s command vessel, and make several closely spaced jumps away from the core. Ramon reasoned the invasion fleet would not want to split forces in opposite directions, and would assume flight towards the frontier. A backup plan called for splitting up into many directions out of the shipping lane if anyone followed, but Nat’s vessel would still plunge ahead.
“We’ll do two jumps to start, and that’ll be within the hour. Two more jumps the hour after, as fast as we can charge, so we’ll be coasting,” said Ramon.
“Oh, dear,” said Nat. Every jump was still a nasty experience for her, though the nausea was much less severe than it had been. “I think I’d better lie down for this, and take a sedative.”
“I’ll give you half an hour,” said Ramon. “Those ships they’ve sent after us are closing fast.”
She went to her cramped cabin, took a double dose of sedative and laced herself into the wall hammock. In a few minutes her head was swimming. Tatjana, you must answer me. We’re being chased by elements of the invasion fleet, and we’re trying to get away. We’re splitting up, but intend to rendezvous a hundred light years from here, closer to the frontier. I’m sorry, I don’t have the coordinates, but the invasion fleet is nearly on top of us right now. I’ve tried and tried to contact you. Why aren’t you answering? Oh, I feel myself going to sleep, now. We’re going to make a jump soon. Oh . . .
Grandma Nat slipped into unconsciousness, and the answer from Tatjana came only a moment later.
Grandma, it’s Tatjana. We’ll contact my son and try to get help sent. We’ve been making one jump after the other, and I’ve been sick from it. We’re getting close to the frontier. Keep in contact, and we’ll get together there. I’ll contact you again soon. Love you.
But Natasha slept a deep sleep, and heard none of it.
CHAPTER 38
Anton, it’s mother. I need you with me right now. My entire family is in danger, and you have to help us.
It was like an explosion in his head, breaking the sweet reverie with the woman he loved. They’d cooked a light dinner for themselves in his apartment, and gone through a bottle of wine before settling themselves in a plush sofa to enjoy the sounds of a synth recording, the lights turned low. Myra’s head rested on his shoulder when the mental explosion came, and it startled her.
Is it an emergency? I have someone with me.
Ah. We really must meet h
er, dear, but this is important. I finally got in touch with your great grandmother.
The family matriarch?
She’s in flight from Kratola to here, and says the invasion ships are chasing her little fleet. My whole family could be captured, but I know her well. She’ll suicide before allowing herself to be taken. Can you send ships to help her?
Myra was sitting rigid, and frowning at him. You’ll need exact coordinates.
Ah, there you are.
This is Myra, mother. She’s right, we’ll need exact coordinates. It’ll be a way to closely target the invasion ships, and we’ve waited long enough. We have several Guppies, now, but three are incompletely flight-tested. Maybe we can do it in transit. How far out is she?
Suddenly Leonid Zylak was there. I estimate a couple of thousand light years out from Grand Portal, no more.
That’s several weeks away, even for the Guppies.
Then do the best you can. Grandma has played tag with that fleet for weeks. She can do it for a few more. She didn’t answer just now, probably making a jump. We’ll reach her and get the coordinates you need. Sorry to rush you.
With seven Guppies ready. We’d been talking about moving against both the invasion force and the portal itself. Four more big ships will be ready within the month. We have two fronts out there, and another here. Azar Khalil is taking Gan back to a dictatorship under The Church. We’ll probably have to move against him. I’ll have to keep one Guppy here for now, and the range is too far for our Nova class ships in such a short time. We’ll send the big ships.
We’ll tell her as soon as we can. Right now, I think it’s time for us to quickly meet your lady, said Leonid.
Oh, yes, said mother.
Trae looked down at Myra. Her eyes were wide, and she shook her head.
She’s a bit nervous about doing that.
We understand. Can you hear us, dear?
Myra nodded a yes.
She hears you, mother.
Our son loves you, and we want to love you, too. Just attune yourself to Anton, and we’ll do the rest.
Trae squeezed her tightly to him, and she closed her eyes. He felt her warmth, her presence when they were together not just physically, but in the mind. He closed his eyes, and let himself slip away, then—
It was the same place, with the rolling hills covered with flowers in red and purple hues, and the huge, symmetrical tree silhouetted on a distant knoll. Mother and father were standing in front of him, knee deep in flowers. Mother held out her arms and embraced him closely. Father smiled, shook his hand, and then gave him a fierce hug. “Well, where is she?”
Myra wasn’t there. “I can feel her. She’s here. Come on, Myra, show yourself. This is important to me. Please.”
She appeared, then, only a few steps away in a thick carpet of flowers. She wore a sleeveless, white dress with a pattern of flowers matching her surroundings. “I needed something appropriate to wear,” she said shyly, and smiled.
“This is Myra,” said Trae proudly. “My parents, Leonid and Tatjana Zylak.”
Myra looked strangely at Leonid. “Petyr?” she said, and Trae put a finger to his lips in caution.
His parents didn’t seem to notice Myra’s momentary confusion. Mother rushed to embrace her, and father made an elegant show of kissing her hand. Myra came to Trae, and they held hands.
“Young people in love,” said Mother. “I still remember.”
“As do I,” said Father. “It’s good to see you two together. I hope we’ll truly be together in person within a year or two, after this mess gets cleaned up. Not to be dramatic, but it looks like you and Zylak Industries are going to have to save the world.”
“I’ll be leaving soon with a small squad of Guppies. One flight of Novas will act as support, but nearly all of them will head for Grand Portal. We might need some firepower there with the picket ships. The Guppies have no standard weapons, and I’ll be in the lead ship intercepting the invasion fleet.”
“Not without me, you won’t,” said Myra, “and don’t argue. You need me, and my math.”
“I do need you,” said Trae, and didn’t argue with her.
“Wonderful,” said Father, “but take care of yourselves. We don’t think the ships of the invasion fleet have hull-mounted weapons, but some are large enough to carry attack spacecraft along with armored vehicles and soldiers. Your advantage should be the fact they won’t be expecting an encounter in deep space.”
“If we can turn them back and control Grand Portal, it would be best,” said Trae.
“What about Azar Khalil?” said father Leonid.
“He’ll have to wait until the invasion’s been dealt with. He might even back down if he knows no help is coming from the other side.”
“I doubt that,” said Father. “He’s power hungry, just like his fellow Bishops who’ve brought our home world to its knees.”
“Hopefully the people will someday rise up and destroy them,” said Mother, and it was the hardest thing Trae had ever heard her say.
“In the meantime, Grandma Nat and the rest of my family will be migrants,” she said.
Leonid patted her shoulder. “Not on Elderon, dear. For us, we’re coming home.”
“You’ll be very welcome there, all of you,” said Myra.
“We can watch our grandchildren grow up,” said Mother. Myra smiled, looked at Trae in a way that made him swallow hard.
“We’ll send coordinates of your great-grandmother’s fleet and the invasion force, as soon as we get them,” said Father.
“Your mother and I are a few weeks from the frontier. We’ll go straight to Elderon, and wait for you there.”
“It might not be safe if Khalil decides to attack both Elderon and Galena, but Galena will be first. He tried infiltrating the Church there, but Galena’s emperor threw them out. Khalil hates the man; he’s sure to attack him. Gan is under military rule right now. Demonstrators have been shot.”
“Kratola all over again,” said Father, “and it’ll all be done in the name of The Source.”
“When do we meet again?” asked Trae.
“When we have something new.”
“No. We have to meet regularly. Once each day, from now on, even if it’s only for seconds. Things will change quickly now.”
Father smiled. “Very well, every day, at this time.” He looked at Myra. “We’ll try not to disturb your work.”
Myra looked up at Trae, raised an eyebrow seductively, and said, “Oh, we’re not easily disturbed.”
“A sense of humor, too,” said Father, and embraced them both.
“Very soon, now,” said Mother, and hugged them. “Love you both.”
The dream-like vision fled, leaving them in darkness, for their eyes were still closed. The music was soft, and Myra’s head warm against his shoulder.
“What a beautiful place,” she said, “and such nice people.”
“They like you,” he said, “They told me once it was their favorite place on Elderon. I was conceived in all those flowers.”
“Oh,” she said, and smiled up at him. “What a lovely idea that is.”
Trae made breakfast for her in his apartment the following morning.
CHAPTER 39
Some very large ships are being assembled in orbit around Elderon. There’s been no mention of this to the Trustees, and the project is totally hush-hush. My sources have provided photographs; the ships don’t look like any commercial vessels I’ve ever seen. Gun ships are rolling off their assembly line, and we’re being told they’re for use by our own military and police. I don’t believe it. The ships have railguns as well as conventional weapons. They can be used in space.
Good work, brother. They must be getting information through the Galenan embassy; I’m going to shut that place down. It won’t be long until we move against Galena, anyway. Keep me up-to-date on those ships.
I will. Your day is coming, Khalil. The colonies will be united under The Church and your leadership.
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All power to The Source.
And to His Faithful.
Marcellus Rosling opened his eyes. The steam in the room smelled like lavender, and the other men had left. It was well into evening, and he was nicely cooked. Perhaps dinner at Ducci’s, then some reading before bed. The solitary life had its advantages, but it was always good to reach his brother and contribute a little something for the man’s lifework. It was good to help the only piece of family he had left.
Marcellus went naked to the locker room, showered, air-dried and dressed. He sat on a bench to tie his shoes, and thought he heard a door close. Someone had come to the baths quite late. Or perhaps it was the attendant.
He leaned forward to tie a shoe, heard a faint scuffling sound behind him, but ignored it. He tied the other shoe, and then sat up, stopped by something hard pressed against the back of his head.
“Not a sound,” said a man behind him, and Marcellus’ heart raced. Robbery was unheard of on Elderon, and here it was happening to him.
“What do you want? I carry little money with me,” he said in a hoarse whisper.
“I don’t want your money,” said the man, and the hard thing on the back of Marcellus’ head pressed even harder.
“I’m just a soldier of The Church, and I’m sending a message to your brother.”
Something exploded in Marcellus’ head, and his brain didn’t have time to register the sound of it.
The silenced pistol in his hand coughed a second time. Blood splattered the floor and the locker against which Marcellus Rosling had slumped. John Haight turned the body over with his foot so that the man’s staring eyes and ruined forehead were clearly visible. He holstered his pistol with the silencer still attached, in case someone was unfortunate enough to come in, then retrieved a small camera and took several shots of the body at different angles.
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