by Neal Jones
"A couple months ago I was on a smuggling run through the Nevala Sector, and I stopped at Shel'Belard for supplies. While I was in the bar I overheard a couple thugs talking about someone named Sesrin. I made a few discreet inquiries of the bartender after they left. He said that someone named Sesrin Grax was working for Draussen Ghyl."
Thalor interrupted, cursing, as he shot to his feet.
"I thought you would recognize that name," Tilura continued after a few moments.
"What else did you learn?" he demanded.
"The last time anyone saw her was on Shel. The bartender said she had come in with a couple Indravians for dinner and drinks. That was about a month before, so...going on three months now."
"What about the two thugs? What exactly did you overhear?"
"Just the name. I only caught the end of their conversation. The bartender didn't recognize either of them, but in a place like Shel that doesn't really mean anything. That system is one if the more heavily trafficked ones in that sector."
"Yes, I know," Grax snapped.
"Hey!" Tilura shot back. "I'm doing you a favor! Exxar-One isn't in my neighborhood, and I'm pretty damn sure that my ID was flagged at the docking port, so the least you could do is say 'thank you'!"
Thalor sighed and nodded grudgingly. "You're right. Thank you." He paced the length of the room for a few more moments. The hum of dozens of conversations from the lunch crowd seeped through the closed door, and Grax paused next to the window, watching the coming and going of the waiters from the kitchen.
Tilura waited, giving him his silence.
"You said that was three months ago?"
She nodded.
"Okay. I'll make some inquiries of my own." He headed for the door, and then paused. "Thanks again for telling me," he said over his shoulder.
"Thalor, wait."
But Grax ignored her, continuing out the door, and Tilura waited for a minute or two before leaving the restaurant. As she stepped back onto the promenade, she took no notice of the Chrisarii security officer watching her from the walkway of the upper level.
( 4 )
Grax returned to his restaurant just as the night shift was closing up. The customers who had stayed for last call were being escorted to the door, and the cleaning staff was stacking chairs on the tables while the bartender locked away the bottles in their respective cabinets beneath the counter.
"Hey, boss," Den'z'anu said as he wiped down the counter on last time. One of his antennae bent low in a sign of surprise and puzzlement. "What are you doing back so late?"
"Couldn't sleep. Figured I might as well get some work done on this month's books. Go ahead and lock up when you're done. Don't wait for me."
"Sure thing."
Once in his office, Thalor locked the door and then reached into his bottom desk drawer for the anti-surveillance device. He knew that Commander Navarr would never break security regulations by bugging his office without a warrant, but it was always prudent to take precautions, just in case. Since his arrival on Exxar-One over a year ago, the Orethian had been careful to keep his side business from straying too far into the gray area between abiding by the law and outright breaking it. Technically, most of his dealings were not illegal. Some smuggled Jha'Drok spice here, a few Beridian crystals there, all of it harmless, and the profit was nothing more than some extra credits under the table that wasn't reported to the tax authorities on homeworld.
Setting up shop on a Federation starbase was a completely different galaxy from running a bar on a planet in the Nevala sector, or back home in Orethian space. There were no backroom gambling parlors, no drug deals under the table, and certainly nothing involving anything to do with the Rykon League. Officially, the League didn't operate within Federation space to begin with, but over the last few decades some of the drug lords and gun runners had been able to set up two or three routes into the Federation territories, and the Orethian Star Consortium had become one of their major stopovers. That was how Thalor had come to be associated with them thirty years ago, but he had been prudent enough to not get in over his head. And after he had decided to go into legitimate business for himself fifteen years ago, he had severed all ties to the League.
Grax switched on his terminal and called up his comm files. It took him awhile to find the code he was looking for, and he sent a silent prayer to the Saints, hoping that the code was still valid. The screen went gray for a few moments, and Grax tapped one finger anxiously against the side of his keypad, glancing at the ASD in the center of his desk to ensure it was still functioning. He had almost given up waiting when a scruffy, scowling, human face appeared on the screen.
"What?" the man demanded, leaning forward and squinting.
"Hello, Sol."
"What the hell?? Thalor?"
The Orethian smiled. "Yes, it's me. I'm glad your comm code still works."
"I haven't used this one in years! How the hell are you?"
"I'm doing good."
"I heard about your incarceration on Mr'gss-Gl'nn. It didn't surprise me that you got out of this business after that."
Grax nodded. "I decided to go legitimate. I own a restaurant and bar now."
"Oh? Where?"
"Exxar-One."
Solomon gave a wheezy laugh that soon became a coughing fit. "Of all the places to wind up..."
"You still smoking that zho leaf?"
Sol waved dismissively. "Naw. Gave up the stuff awhile back. So...I assume there's a reason that you're looking me up after all these years?"
Thalor nodded, leaning close to his screen and lowering his voice. "I'm looking for my sister."
"Sesrin?"
"Yes. She was last seen at Shel'Belard three months ago, apparently in the company of Draussen's men."
Sol scowled, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, Thal, I haven't seen her since the time you and I pulled off the Aslar heist. How long ago was that?" He squinted, trying to remember.
"Eighteen years. It was right before Tilura and I broke into the Sr'gg'nss vault on Mr'gss-Gl'nn."
"That's what you got sentenced for?"
"Yeah, two years."
Solomon narrowed his eyes, leaning his handsome face closer to the screen. "Tilura Shrane? She left you holding the loot, eh?"
"Something like that. Listen, I can't stay on this channel for long. I just wanted to ask a favor. Will you do some snooping for me? I know Sesrin can take care of herself, but if she's mixed up with Draussen, it can't be good."
"I agree. If you don't hear from me in three days, call me again at this number."
"Thanks, Sol."
"Take care of yourself, Thal." 'Thal' was Sol's nickname for his former apprentice.
"I always do."
Chapter 3
____________________
( 1 )
LIEUTENANT GLANDON PRESSED THE DOOR chime and then stood back, sighing as he waited. He checked the display on his compad. It was almost lunch time, and he scowled as he glanced through the rest of his list. Six more decks to go. He pressed the chime again, irritated, and then checked the display on the com panel. The numeral "one" was displayed next to the word "occupant", meaning that, according to the computer's biosensors, there was definitely someone home.
Glandon waited for another few seconds and then pressed the chime again. When there was still no answer, he tapped his commlink. "Glandon to central security."
"This is Lieutenant Navarr."
"I'm on deck sixteen of DS-4, quarters 13-J. The biosensors say that there's someone inside, but they're not answering the door, and I need to clear this deck for a maintenance crew."
"What kind of maintenance?"
"We're conducting a level 3 diagnostic of the power transfer grid in this section, and that means shutting down the entire grid for this section. It's a hardware inspection."
"Okay. I'll send someone your way as soon as I can. Navarr out."
Twenty minutes later, just as Glandon was starting to lose his patience, a Chrisarii
officer rounded the corner.
"Sorry, lieutenant. It's been a busy day. You need a security override?"
"Yeah. 13-J." Glandon pointed. "I tried the chime again three times while I was waiting for you. Still no answer."
"Have you checked the assignment manifest for this section?"
"Of course," the lieutenant replied, irritated. "This cabin is registered to Harmod Rosa. He arrived yesterday morning, and he checked in at ten-twenty-five. He paid for two weeks."
The Chrisarii ignored Glandon's impatience, double checking the biosensors' readout, and then pulled up a record of the readouts for the past thirty hours. "You're right. Mr. Rosa entered, he had a visitor at fourteen-twenty-seven, and one of them left fifteen minutes later." He initiated a security override and then stood back as the door opened. "Wait out here, please."
Glandon nodded, checking the chronometer readout on his pad once more. He was now half an hour behind. After a few moments, he heard the lieutenant tap his commlink.
"Garif to central security."
"This is Navarr."
"Commander, I have a code twelve. I need a medical team and forensics to my location immediately."
"Understood."
Startled, Glandon poked his head inside the doorway. Garif was kneeling next to the body of a Ralorian male who was sprawled face down on the carpet in the middle of the room.
Garif glanced up. "You may continue with your work, lieutenant. I will remain here until the crime unit arrives."
( 2 )
Alikk Vi'Sar sipped his ale, pleased that this bar seemed to have a better selection than the last seedy joint in which he and Galoret Ain had met. Since that initial conference over seven months ago, the leader of the Shouk Drigald had remained in hiding, presumably somewhere in Jha'Drok space. He and Vi'Sar communicated through an elaborate means of coded messages passed through several underground channels, and, while tedious at times, the system worked well enough to ensure the secrecy of their plans. It was also adequate enough that face to face meetings like this had not been necessary until only a few weeks ago. It had taken over a month of back-and-forth coded communiqués for Alikk to finally arrange a time and a place for he and Ain to meet.
The Chrisarii fumed silently as he drank, occasionally casting his gaze towards the door. Ain was over an hour late, and Alikk was starting to get anxious. He glanced around the large room, eyeing the handful of other patrons, all of whom looked like they belonged here. The Nevala Sector was ruled by smugglers, drug lords, and mob lords, most of whom belonged to the notorious Rykon League, an organized crime ring that dealt in anything black market. The bar that Alikk had selected for this meeting was on the third planet in the Kinnt system, deep in the heart of the Nevala sector. The Chrisarii finished his ale and motioned to the bartender to bring him another. He decided to hold out for ten minutes more.
Just as the waitress plopped another ale in front of Alikk, the door opened and Galoret strode into the bar. He glanced around, spotted Vi'Sar in the back corner, and threaded his way through the tables. He paused long enough to request an ale from the waitress and then sat across from Alikk.
The Chrisarii activated the ASD in the center of the table. "Why are you late?" he demanded irritably.
"My apologies," Ain shrugged. "I had a matter that required my attention. I wasn't able to resolve it as quickly as I'd hoped." The waitress arrived with his drink and he took a long draught, wiping his mouth with his sleeve afterward. "So, now that I'm here, what's so important that couldn't be discussed in our usual channels?"
Alikk moved his drink aside and leaned in, folding his hands on the table. "When we last met, I thought I made it clear that the Drigald needed to cease its bombing of civilian targets, specifically places such as the commerce plazas and other business districts."
Ain shrugged again. "I told you that I'm doing everything I can to bring all the cells under my authority. Unfortunately, that's taking longer than I expected, and, in the meantime, a few radicals have decided to act of their own accord."
Alikk spate a curse at Galoret, in Ain's own language, and the Jha'Drok visibly bristled at the insult. His expression hardened as he leaned forward.
"Is that a threat, Chrisarii??"
Alikk gave a derisive laugh. "You're pathetic, Galoret! What kind of a fool do you take me for?"
"Oh, I am sorry, Alikk. Are we not mobilizing fast enough for you? Please, allow me to step aside so that you may show me how it's done."
"Gladly," Vi'Sar snapped. "Your empire is half the size of mine, and most of your rebels are within the Resaki districts, correct? The poor, the underprivileged, the ones who feel the monarchy has become a dictatorship and must be overthrown, am I right?" Ain nodded sullenly, sipping his ale. "So, since that is the case, why have you not – in seven months – gathered enough men loyal to you who can also command terrorist cells?"
"It's not that simple," Ain hissed. "Have you been paying attention to the underground feeds? The last two lord emperors bankrupted the Emperium with their secret project, and when that assault legion was destroyed it caused an economic recession! Some are calling it the worst in our modern age. The government has barely enough soldiers to retain control of the member worlds, and even that is starting to slip. Resistance cells have suddenly appeared all over the empire in the last six months alone, and the Drigald are doing the best we can to keep up!" Galoret paused, sipping his ale and composing himself. "So," he continued calmly, "I would appreciate any assistance that the Haal'Chai can provide us, which, as I understood it seven months ago, was the whole point of this secret alliance, was it not?"
Alikk nodded grudgingly. "All right, I see your point. So who, then, was responsible for the last two bombings?"
"I don't know, but I can tell you for certain it was not the Drigald." Ain motioned to the waitress to bring him another round. "I can also tell you that I have been successful in planting two spies within the palace in Gtheldron. They tell me that the situation in Erengaar's court – as well as the senate – is not going well at all. It seems that unrest is everywhere in the Emperium, and that that our people are on the brink of a free fall."
Alikk finished his ale, staring gravely at the table, lost in thought. "What is the emperor planning? How exactly is the senate responding to all of these crises?"
"As I just said, tension and unrest are everywhere. Rumor is that the senate is divided, that they can't decide on a plan to counteract the recession, and that Erengaar just might declare emergency power of state."
"Is that your term for martial law?"
Galoret nodded. "The problem is, there's not enough of our military strength left to successfully enforce the power of the state, and the senate knows that."
Alikk sat back, narrowing his eyes as he considered Ain's words. "You need the people on your side. They are not the enemy. The Talik'Jhor and the monarchy need to be your primary targets. Find out who's behind these latest attacks, and get them to understand the need for unity."
Ain shook his head, puzzled. "I understand what you're saying, but isn't this type of chaos exactly what we need to keep the government off balance. If we can push the senate over the edge, and they declare emergency power of state, doesn't that play directly into our hands? That is our goal, is it not?"
"Yes," Vi'Sar replied, "but not this soon. The peace talks between the Alliance and the Federation have only just begun. The timetable for this entire operation is very specific, and if you overthrow the monarchy too soon, it will –"
"- will what?" Ain interrupted. "How does that upset the High Quorum's plans? As a matter of fact, why is the Alliance so eager to go through with the ruse of these peace talks in the first place? I would think that all this civil unrest among the Jha'Drok would be exactly what the Quorum needs." He leaned forward, lowering his voice, even though the privacy field generated by the ASD ensured that no one beyond their table could hear their words. "We overthrow the senate, assassinating everyone – including the lord
emperor – and we establish a new democracy, one that will form a new treaty with the Chrisarii, and then we go after the Federation. That was the plan that you and I prepared seven months ago, was it not?"
"Yes," Alikk confirmed, "but –"
"So, everything is proceeding according to plan. I will do everything I can to ensure that no more bombings occur. I think the current level of civil unrest is exactly where it needs to be at this point, and you're right: slaughtering the very people that one needs on one's side to forge a rebellion is not good strategy. I already have my suspicions about who was responsible for these recent attacks, and I'm sure I can...persuade them to join the Drigald. In the meantime –"
"– In the meantime," Vi'Sar cut in, pointing at Ain, "you will make do with the weapons and technology that we have already provided. I sincerely hope, Galoret, that what we've given you was not used to manufacture those bombs. If the High Quorum learns that you are deceiving them, you will not survive to see this operation to its end."
"Oh, come now, Alikk, such empty threats. Let's be honest. We both know that the High Quorum will not allow you to simply disappear once all of this is done, and I seriously doubt that you would settle for that either. What are your plans in all of this?"
Alikk rose, deactivating the ASD and slipping it into his pocket. "As always, Galoret, it has been a pleasure. Until next time." He downed the last of his ale and left the bar.
Ain watched him leave, smiling coldly as he sipped his ale.
( 3 )
Lieutenant Sikandra lunged forward, plunging her blade into the neck of the humanoid monster whose massive claws were inches from her throat. She immediately pulled out the blade and pivoted to sever the alien's left arm in one fluid stroke. She whirled, ready for the next attacker, as the jungle around her echoed with the screams of the inhabitants who were lurking in its shadowy depths. But no more leaped into the clearing. The battlefield was empty, save for the corpses of the aliens that Grynel had slaughtered in the last hour, and, after a minute or two, the screams faded. Sweat, grime, and multi-colored blood covered her face, neck, and arms, and it took several minutes for her adrenaline rush to abate, and her breathing to return to normal.
