Stranded on Haven

by William Zellmann

  Relief surged through me. King David obviously wasn't willing to risk his landers, or use them for orbital surveillance. I suspected that the king and most of his people were intimidated by the landers' technology, and were being very careful. Good. I could move about safely, as long as I was careful about being seen.

  Still, I wasn't interested in becoming involved in a global or orbital chase. "Jane, what are the present conditions of the landers in Haven hands?"

  The answer was prompt. "The workboat they first commandeered reports itself non-functional, due to partial disassembly of hull components," Jane reported. "The two landers seized from the International Zone report fully functional and adequate fuel available. Would you like to retrieve them using remote control?"

  Remote control! I wanted to slap myself! Granted, the landers were rarely operated by remote control; captains and planetary authorities preferred to have a pilot to blame if something went wrong. About the only time remote control was used was in remote systems and outposts with limited local resources; Freighter captains hated having to use one of their cargo handlers to pilot landers.

  Still, the capability existed, and I was well aware of it. When we first arrived, Lisa and I decided that the locals might be frightened by a vessel with no obvious pilot, and our supply of robots made it simple for the ships to control the robot pilots instead of the built-in remote controls. So, I got used to a robot in the pilot's chair. Stupid! I could have grabbed those landers back at any time, instead of constantly worrying about being found by orbital surveillance!

  But … "Not yet, Jane. Can they be lifted off at any time? Can you lift off more than one at a time? And what about possible humans within the blast radius?"

  "As I reported earlier, Captain," Jane replied, "two of the landers report readiness to lift. The other reports itself disabled. As for your second question, I normally lack the capacity to operate two landers simultaneously. However, with my present reduced workload, I have sufficient excess capacity to control two landers, though their maneuvering ability will be limited to a simple lift-to-orbit. At present, humans are within the blast radius of all three landers. Of course, this means I cannot lift them off using reaction engines. However, unless a human is actually beneath one of the landers, I will be able to lift off the two operable landers on gravitics."

  I smiled. Any human actually beneath one of the landers would have to be flat on his back or his belly; hardly likely. So, Jane would be able to lift at least two of the landers into orbit, and free of the New Homers.

  But no. The success of this rescue was going to depend on my technological advantage, but also on the element of surprise. When I took action, it would have to be quick and beyond New Home’s capabilities. For the moment, I'd have to leave the landers where they were.

  Duke Richard and General Hunto were well aware that I had advanced capabilities, though they had no idea how many or what kind. Still, they were men of their culture. I suspected that they expected me to try to sneak in, probably by air, ground my lander and try to rescue Heidi, presumably laser in one hand and cutlass in the other.

  But I was no swashbuckling fantasy hero, and such an approach would obviously be doomed to failure before it was even launched. When they actually thought about it, though, I was sure they expected me to begin to frantically recruit mercenary fighters; an action sure to come to the attention of their agents, who would then kidnap me and put me in the cell next to Heidi's.

  Unfortunately, they were right. There was no hope that I could rescue Heidi singlehanded, and as soon as I started to search out mercenaries, Duke Richard would know for certain that I was alive. More importantly, he would know my location. If I were him, I'd bring in a bunch of commandos by airship, have them sign on with me, and take me as soon as we grounded at the palace. No muss, no fuss, and with control of Adventurer within their grasp, Brent wins the present non-war.

  Well, as I mentioned, I was no swashbuckling hero, and I had no military experience at all. But, I thought suddenly, I know someone who does!

  The surprise on President Runtz's face quickly faded. He glanced around him. "I'm sorry, gentles," he said to whoever was with him, "You'll have to excuse me for a moment." The background moved dizzyingly as he moved into another room, closing the door behind him.

  Then his face occupied my screen once more, and one of Runtz's rare smiles arose. "Carver! I am truly glad to see you alive and well."

  I returned his smile. Runtz was a grizzled old warhorse, but every time I met him, I liked him better. "Thank you, Messer President."

  Runtz's smile faded. "I assume you didn't come out of hiding just to say hello. How can I help you?"

  "Duke Richard has captured Heidi Bauer," I said quickly.

  "Bauer? The, uh, agent who became your bodyguard? The woman who was with you when, uh …"

  I nodded. "Yes, sire."

  Runtz frowned. "I'm sorry to hear that, Carver. She was a beautiful woman, and I liked her despite her, uh, history. But you know we're in a standoff right now; neither side wants a war, but neither side can see any way to back down."

  I nodded soberly. "I know that, sire. I've been watching the situation closely. And I know that your active involvement might destabilize the situation, and make it even worse. But I do need your help – off the record, as they say."

  Another of his smiles arose. "Off the record, you can have anything it's in my power to bestow. Cellia, and I, owe you a great debt."

  I waved dismissively. "Nonsense, sire. It's you that have overseen Cellia's resurgence from Len's mismanagement."

  Runtz chuckled. "Well, now that we've got past the meeting of the Mutual Admiration Society, tell me how I can help. Off the record."

  "Heidi's being taken to the palace," I said. "Obviously, it's a trap for me. I'm working on a plan to use my technological edge. But whatever I do, I can't do it alone. Duke Richard knows that, and I suspect he's waiting for me to start trying to hire men. I wondered if you might know a trustworthy mercenary leader; someone I might set to do my hiring inconspicuously. I'd hate to end up with a crew of New Home agents."

  Runtz' smile turned to a grimace, and then a frown. "I don't like mercenaries; and 'trustworthy' is not a word I usually associate with them. I agree with the ancient who said to avoid them; if they are incompetent, you are lost, and if they are competent, they're tempted to turn on their paymaster.

  "However," he continued, "It happens that I do know a man. An excellent officer. He refused an order from Len to open fire on some food rioters. Len wanted him executed, but I talked him into letting me court-martial and cashier him.

  "After Len died, I offered to take him back into the army, but he liked the mercenary life. Calls himself 'Colonel' now, though he was a major . Colonel Tre Grandig" Runtz shrugged. "I'd say he's as close to trustworthy as you'll find in a merc.

  "Still, I'd arrange to meet him in a public place, if I were you. I think I can find a couple of my people who'd be willing to cover you. Off duty, of course."A thin smile arose. "If I know Tre, he'll have a couple of his own people there covering him." He shrugged. "I'll call him. Don't worry, I won't mention your name. Uh, you know he's going to be expensive?"

  I smiled. "That's no problem, messer President. How about asking him to meet me in the restaurant of the Hotel Cellia at, say, 13 hours, day after tomorrow?"

  Runtz chuckled again. "If you're staying there, I can see that money is 'no problem'. All right, Jerd. I'll take care of it." He sobered. "You be careful, Jerd. If David gets you, it will touch off that war nobody wants. We'd have to attack. We won't be able to let him break you and get aboard Adventurer, and he'd have to break you as quickly as possible; he knows that only control of Adventurer will let him win."

  I nodded. "I know, messer President. I don't suppose you might know where I can obtain plans or blueprints of the palace?"

  A smile flared. "As a matter of fact, it happens that Len obtained a copy of those very documents, and had several more mad
e. I'll have one delivered to you at the hotel. What name will you be using?"

  "Toms Jando, from New Home. I'm here to make sure that the current unpleasantness doesn't upset our business interests in Cellia."

  Runtz laughed aloud. "I certainly wouldn't envy you that job. All right, 'Toms Jando' it is.

  With Jane making certain we were unseen, Ellie and I returned to the Cellia safe house that night — well, in the wee hours of the morning. Neither of us were sleepy, though. We sat at the kitchen table and talked over caf and choc until the time came for me to begin the intricate process of lighting off our steam carriage.

  The train ride was as smoky and dirty as I remembered. We walked two blocks before I signaled a hansom cab and rode the rest of the way to the hotel. There had been no sign of watchers or pursuers.

  Our early arrival gave us time to rest up, and time for Ellie to keep watch on traffic in and out of the hotel from behind a newspaper in the sumptuous lobby. I, of course, had to remain in our room, fidgeting and putting the final touches on our plan.

  Res arrived at nine hours, carrying a suitcase crammed with a million Cellian marks; the New Home crown had been taking a beating lately on exchange rates. He chatted with Elllie for a few minutes, and then casually sauntered out.

  The plan was based on maximum confusion. Startrader was on her way back, At the same time she arrived and assumed orbit, the lander concealed in the Zone would explode her dome and lift off using her reaction engines; loud and bright. Shortly after that, the two stolen landers would also lift off, on gravs until they reached a safe altitude, and then on their own bright, loud reaction engines.

  Simultaneously with all that, we would launch our attack on the palace. The lander from the Zone carried a "secret weapon", but I estimated that we'd need a workboat load of mercs to complete the rescue. Once we had Heidi, we'd drop the mercs off in safe territory and lift into orbit, boarding Startrader to watch the resulting excitement.

  That was the plan, but I kept remembering an ancient saying I'd read somewhere: 'No battle plan survives contact with the enemy.'

  Chapter 19

  At 1230 hours, Ellie called on my implant to tell me that three burly young men, looking uncomfortable in their ill-fitting civilian clothing, entered the restaurant, taking a corner booth. Ellie waited a few minutes, and then followed them in, taking a table that allowed her full view of the young men.

  I went down to the restaurant at 1245 hours. The young men were easy to spot; besides, they tensed slightly as I entered. I swept a glance over the restaurant, careful not to pause as my gaze swept over Ellie, daintily picking at her salad and sipping her tea with her right hand; her left was holding her handbag in her lap. No one else in the restaurant seemed to be showing any interest in me. Either Runtz had forgotten his promise to send me some 'off duty' cover, or that cover was very good. I took a table in full view of both Ellie and the young men, and ordered a fruit tea. The five of us spent the remaining minutes carefully not looking at each other. I suspect an interested onlooker would have found it hilarious.

  Colonel Tre Grandig was a tall man, with a narrow waist and broad shoulders guaranteed to make a beanpole like me envious. His suit was well-tailored, but he looked only slightly less uncomfortable in it than his men did. His short-cut black hair was graying at the temples.

  He threw a glance at the corner, and one of the men jerked a quick, slight nod in my direction. His eyes widened as he turned toward me. I rose to greet him. "Colonel Grandig, I presume," I said with a smile.

  His answering smile was distracted, but by the time he reached my table, he was again under control. He smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. They were cold and calculating. The eyes of a predator.

  He nodded slightly. "Yes. And you are?"

  I let my smile fade. "I think you know who I am, Colonel."

  This time the smile was thinner, but he relaxed slightly. "Ah. No pretenses, then?"

  I shook my head. "No. Our mutual friend said you were trustworthy, and I trust his word."

  The smile widened slightly, but the eyes softened. "As do I. The General said you had a proposition for me?"

  I began to explain, but after a few moments, he interrupted me. "Heidi? Would that be Heidi Bauer?"

  Surprised, I answered, "Why, yes."

  He nodded slightly. "I knew her. A rather tragic figure, actually. She hated what she was made to do. I liked her. But I thought she was dead."

  I shook my head, smiling. "Let's say that Len's death gave her a chance to change careers. She's now my bodyguard, my confidant, and my friend. I hate that King David is using her as bait for me, and I hate even more that I must take the bait. I plan to see to it that both of us survive the trap.

  "And just how do you plan to do that?"

  "With your help, Colonel," I explained. "I will arrange a number of diversions involving my advanced technology, things Duke Richard and General Hunto cannot ignore."

  Grandig shook his head, frowning. "No amount of diversions will get you into the palace. It's the most well-guarded building on Haven. It would take a battalion to break into it."

  But as I spelled out the plan for him, a genuine smile rose on his face. And this one did reach his eyes. "Tell me what you need, Messer Carver."

  I nodded. "I can only seat 20 men in the lander, so they need to be twenty of your best. And a few kilos of explosive; something to blow a hole in the roof of the palace. I assume your men have typical infantry weapons."

  He nodded. "No star weapons?"

  I shook my head. "Aside from the fact that I don't want to promote that technology, I simply don 't have access to any at the moment, other than personal weapons for me, my secretary, and Heidi. Besides, would you really want to take your troops into combat with new, unfamiliar weapons?"

  The genuine smile flared again. "Your secretary? That would be that young lady eyeing my men?"

  I nodded. "No pretenses."

  He looked pensive for a moment. "One hundred thousand marks. Half in advance."

  I nodded. "Please join me in my room, Colonel. Send your men to the bar, my treat."

  He snorted. "Those men? In the bar of the Hotel Cellia? The damages alone would cost you more than the mission."

  He waved one of the young men over, handed him a bill. The three left with wide grins. We adjourned to my room.

  ********

  Even in the yellow prison dress, hair tangled and wild, and lacking makeup, the woman was beautiful, Duke Richard decided as he entered the cell. Oh, he'd seen her before, of course, but this was the first time he'd really looked at her.

  He bowed slightly. "Mistress Bauer. I regret the necessity of your present circumstances. But to escape them, you need only answer one question: Where is he?"

  She frowned. "He? who?" After a moment her face cleared. "You mean Jerd Carver? He's dead. Don't you listen to your own radio?"

  He smiled coldly. "No, actually I don't. and I don't believe Carver is dead. I believe he's here on Haven, and I believe you know where he is."

  Heidi shrugged. "I'm not responsible for your beliefs. Believe in the Star Demons if you wish. But I haven't had contact with Jerd Carver since before your terrorist raid."

  Duke Richard shook his head. "That lander was the property of the people of Haven, and was blatantly stolen by Jerd Carver, who denied us our heritage. Seizing it was a blow for the rights of all Haven. It was not a terrorist raid!"

  She snickered. "Your propaganda is even worse than Len's. Maybe you should hire some better liars."

  Duke Richard glared. He started to snap a reply, but stopped and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them a few seconds later, he was once again totally in control. He shook his head again. "Are you really that blind? Don't you realize that Carver is becoming rich from the knowledge that should belong to all of us? That the knowledge he is hoarding could once again unify the people of Haven?"

  She snickered again, but made no other reply.

 
He sighed. "I had hoped you would see reason, and come to understand that New Home is acting for the good of all Haven. but I can see that you are willing to betray Haven for this … this invader." He shrugged. "I sincerely regret the necessity, Mistress, but it is obvious that I must regard you as an enemy of the state, and treat you accordingly. Please remember that you bring this upon yourself. We must find the interloper, and we will!" He swept from the cell.

  As he watched the guard again lock the cell, Duke Richard suppressed a smile. It didn't matter much whether she talked or not, of course, and he didn't really expect a hardened assassin to be easily intimidated. But Carver would be coming, and he would be ready.

  ********

  As I'd told Colonel Grandig, my plan hinged on two major things; diversion and confusion, and the fact that the lander concealed on the roof of my building in the Zone had been placed there because of the threat of an attack by Len. It was unarmed, of course, but clamped to the bottom of its hull was a large tank of sleep gas, compressed to liquid. The gas was heavier than air, and if necessary, I had planned to sweep back and forth above the Zone spraying the gas, after which I could ground and disarm our opponents as they slept.

  Well, okay, the plan wasn't great. For instance, I hadn't considered the risk of 'sweeping back and forth' while a couple of hundred trained soldiers tried their best to shoot me down. But then, I had a lot on my mind at the time, and as I said, I have no training or experience in anything more military than a gang fight or a riot.

  But now, ironically, I was planning to use essentially the same plan, and an experienced military officer thought it might work!

  First, Startrader would reenter orbit just after midnight, all lights lit and overwhelming all radio communications with static. Then, just as Duke Richard began reacting to that, the dome on top of my building in the Zone would explode, and the concealed lander would lift, loud and bright, from behind his own lines. The confused reports that would generate would be most helpful in keeping Duke Richard and General Hunto busy. A few minutes later the two stolen landers would lift from his own military airship field on gravs until it was safe to light off their loud, bright reaction drives and head for orbit. More reports to keep the duke and the general busy.