The Return: The Conglomerate Trilogy (Volume 1)
Page 24
“I’m well trained in infantry combat,” Leonessa said.
“That may be,” Brita said. “But that is combat against humans. Humans don’t have spike tails, laser wire, plasma grenades, quantum claws or phase mortars. Also, you didn’t receive the combat upgrades that will boost your perceptions and reaction times.”
Leonessa nodded and Luke could tell she wanted to argue but she was smart enough not to.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Ambush
The shuttle landed in a port more populated than the previous one Leonessa had visited. This time when she stepped off the shuttle, it was obvious this was a better-kept and secure area. Shining towers rose around them, exotic aircraft slid by them in lines, their method of keeping them from colliding invisible but present. On other platforms, there were throngs of aliens coming or going from shuttles or ships. The smog was thinner but still ever present and since Luke didn’t remove his helmet nobody else felt obligated to do so.
Sound was drowned out as a massive collection of metal boxes came to land on a nearby platform. Leonessa stared at the ugly contraption trying to identify the cockpit, or even the front of the ship. Suddenly the ship highlighted in green and information scrolled across her view as her new InnerBuddy interfaced with the Conglomerate Network to answer her unspoken query triggered by her staring. It was as Class Ninety-Four light trading vessel made by the Broma. The estimated age was around four hundred years old. This vessel was named G94VM-77483A9 and was operated by a local Brazat trading company named Vrrzat.
Leonessa smiled. The new cybernetics were much better than the ones she had been issued and she still hadn’t had time to go through all the options and menus. Luke had assured her they were still compatible with Jupiter Alliance systems as well which was comforting.
Leading the way, Luke headed toward a ramp sliding into a nearby tower. Feeling self-conscious of the rifle on her back, Leonessa adjusted it, trying to make it less conspicuous. Back in the Jupiter Alliance it was rare to see anyone other than active duty personnel armed. It was becoming even more rare in the closer Jupiter colonies, where crime was on the rise, and the politicians were doing their best to disarm everyone.
They were met at the ramp by a pair of lightly armed inspectors. Very tall, egg headed, blue-skinned aliens wearing breather masks and dressed in shimmering yellow suits. These aliens were armed with thin pistols strapped to their legs. At first Leonessa thought they were Pral, but their resemblance to Topa Suresh was only superficial and up close they were very different. Leonessa couldn’t stop staring at them and her InnerBuddy menu popped up.
‘Conglomerate Customs Inspector - Surname: Bus, Lineage - Name: Rafal - Race: Bishari - Rank: Nushal (Naval Lieutenant) - Sex: Male (non-breeding)
“Greetings Shoka,” the taller one said, his voice sounding like flowing, gurgling water. His words were translated to a screen within Leonessa’s view as a bubble above Bus’s head and they were translated in her ear so she could hear them. The alien bobbed its head in a bow. It looked like the head fell and bounced off the chin, then back up into position.
“Hello Inspector,” Luke said in English with a dip of his head.
“Do you need a reminder of the rules?” the Inspector asked cocking his head to the side, his eyes widening as if in alarm.
“No thank you,” Luke replied and dipped his head. “I have them on file and reviewed them before landing.”
“Thank you, Shoka,” the Inspector said, his head bouncing again. “Travel in peace.”
“And you Inspector,” Luke said with another dip of the head.
“Rules?” Leonessa said.
“No weapons of mass destruction,” Luke said when the inspector turned away and left. “Violence will be dealt with using violence, and so on. As a Shoka, my crew and I must abide by Topa laws, not local laws, but that doesn’t mean we won’t respect local laws. The locals can file a grievance with the Topa and my title of Shoka could be revoked. That would allow the locals to pursue me and my crew, or more likely hire bounty hunters to avenge themselves.”
“How do the Topa handle grievances?” Leonessa asked.
“Very seriously,” Luke said. “If invoked the Topa are very harsh and merciless with the guilty party, whether it is the Shoka or those who filed an invalid grievance. More often than not, it works out very badly for all parties involved. It discourages the filing of invalid grievance reports and encourages the parties involved to work it out among themselves. Doesn’t work all the time, but more often than not, it does.”
“Have you ever had your title revoked?” Brita asked.
“No,” Luke said. “The key is to respect the local customs and laws, minimize the violence, and concentrate on the mission. I had one grievance filed against me and the Topa destroyed the vessel of those who filed it. The owners were rendered penniless refugees. Long story short, I killed a soldier who attacked a diplomat I was guarding. That soldier belonged to a powerful family. Family got pissed and thought to get revenge on me.”
“How did the Topa know?” Leonessa asked.
“I record all my operations,” Luke said. “It’s not required, but at the completion of every mission where I invoke Shoka status I provide the data to the Topa.”
“Not required?” Leonessa said. “Aren’t you worried they might take exception to something?”
Luke shrugged. “They haven’t yet and they give me plenty of high paying, and dangerous jobs.”
“Why? What if they decided to kill you?” Leonessa asked.
Luke shrugged and didn’t meet her eyes, his voice was empty. “That would be an optimal solution. I would get to see Elena again.”
Leonessa paused, staring at Luke.
“What happens to us if you die?” Leonessa said and that stopped Luke for a second, his brow furrowed. “Brita takes over and evacuates everyone. She becomes commander of my ships and after returning you home she returns to New Alamo.”
“Just like that?” she said.
Luke stopped and looked at her. “If I die, cease fire and retreat as fast as you can. People acting under my orders, are my responsibility. If you kill when I cannot be held accountable, then local law will take precedence and local authorities, slavers or forces will try to take advantage of that.”
“Well crap,” Brita said. “Nobody told me that.”
“Don’t die on us then,” Leonessa said.
Luke nodded and resumed his trek to the spaceport terminal. It was a sobering thought to Leonessa. If Luke was killed on this mission the Topa would do nothing. If she understood the situation, Brita wouldn’t be able to help and Leonessa might never rescue her crew.
* * *
At the terminal Leonessa had a hard time keeping up with Luke because of his rapid pace. Her eyes kept wandering to different aliens, sculptures or objects. The place they had landed before was nothing like this. She caught Luke glancing at her and then noticed how he slowed down his pace so she could look around.
There were throngs of aliens, of all shapes, colors and sizes moving around, all on missions she knew nothing about. She had her InnerBuddy recording for later review and she couldn’t keep her eyes still. There was so much to see. Whenever she stared long enough, her InnerBuddy would pop up with information on the subject, showing race, sex and frequently home world. Luke had told her it would not show a being’s name or other information unless she was interacting with it and then it would receive her name and any information it wanted to show.
She had lost count of the alien races present. She found if she stared at the text for a being’s race it would pop up additional information and links for yet more information. Leonessa could spend days just sitting here learning about the different aliens but Luke kept a constant pace, leading them through customs where Luke would have to finish registration and processing his vehicles through customs.
“Is everyone biologically augmented to survive on Conglomerate worlds?” Leonessa asked Brita while Luke spoke with
an official. Many of the aliens around didn’t seem to have helmets, masks or any kind of special protective gear.
“Mostly,” Brita said. “Although there are species who refuse augmentation for social, religious or biological reasons. There are some nasty bugs that have been detected. While they can’t always survive in a human host, they can still kill us trying if they get a good foot hold. There is a lot of bio diversity on Conglomerate worlds. I don’t even think the Conglomerate has cataloged all the dangers and threats. There are many Conglomerate worlds like this. Not all of them are this populous, but quite a few of them have hostile atmospheres. Our upgrades should protect us though and your InnerBuddy will warn you if there is a problem.”
“This is a lot to take in,” Leonessa said, watching a waist high octopus like creature walk by in a smooth flowing manner next to her.
“It is pretty cool,” Brita said watching the octopus. “I find it fascinating to walk through space port terminals and see all the different creatures.”
“Really,” Leonessa replied. “I could spend days just standing here.”
In the terminal Luke finished the registration required while the droids prepared the transport, an armored car that could fit a squad of droids or about six crowded humans. Another one of Luke’s assault shuttles landed with a grav carrier full of droids. They would not follow closely but would be available in case Luke needed them. Nelson remained in orbit to oversee the situation and remained in constant communication with the droids and Luke. Musashi had insisted this be treated like an expedition into a hostile city and Luke would not override him.
Nelson had said during the briefing that once Luke entered the hive like city, it would become difficult to track everyone. The platoon carrier following the transport would work to maintain a communication link with the ships overhead and it was commanded by a droid named Daley, one of Luke’s veteran platoon commanders. The goal of the carrier was to shadow the team and provide support. Another shuttle commanded by Gray had landed a few hours earlier at a different port using different a registration and codes. They would be the team’s ace in the hole. Any hostile forces would expect Luke to bring backup, but they would not expect the other carrier, camouflaged to look like a bright, colorful, pleasure craft.
Luke’s goal was several levels down and ten kilometers from the spaceport. Gray’s carrier had already flown it and transmitted what to expect so Luke and Musashi could watch the route for any changes, loitering transports or occupied potential sniper positions.
“You are paranoid,” Leonessa said. “I thought you had a death wish?”
Luke frowned and ignored the comment for a second and then Leonessa noticed Brita’s scowl.
“I take my promises seriously,” Luke said.
“Silence everyone,” Musashi growled. “Mission chatter only. Bicker like children back on the ship.”
Luke growled an acknowledgment and everyone else remained silent, watching their assigned sectors.
It did not take long to arrive at their destination. The last five hundred meters would be on foot in a main concourse and they had to leave the grav car in a parking lot. This was one of the great towers and it maintained its own atmosphere. Based on the people moving around, their mode of dress and their inattention to others this was a more upscale tower. The air smelled pleasant and the acrid, unpleasant smog was absent. Green and red plants of various types lined the walk ways and over flowed strategically placed islands. There were no transport crafts allowed beyond the hanger but there were slide walks leading throughout the area. It looked like a park and Leonessa looked around, half expecting to see the city curve up and around like it did on so many of the colonies she had lived in. She had to remind herself this wasn’t a cylinder, this was a planet and it wrapped around a massive sphere, not around the inside of a tube.
Gray had already slipped small recon drones into the area and Leonessa had two their views up on her InnerBuddy screens. Leonessa saw nothing threatening, or any cause for concern and she enjoyed looking at the people and plants. There were fewer varieties of aliens here, mostly Brazat and more than a few of the Pral like Bishari.
Luke took the lead and headed toward where their heads-up display marker was directing him. There were still plenty of aliens moving about. This was not a shopping area so much as an administrative section. The numerous Brazat made Leonessa nervous but these were not nasty, scarred savages like those she had fought against. Even dressed in bright colorful clothes, with obvious signs of technology, their eyes shifted quickly, their teeth appeared sharp and she saw their claws slip in and out of their finger pads. They did not move smoothly, fast or as quietly like the ones that had hunted her, and her hand never left the holstered pistol as she walked beside Musashi and behind Luke.
Finally, they arrived at the meet point. At first, it looked like a store, but in the back were tables and booths. When Luke walked in, a Brazat walked up to Luke and the translator kicked into action.
“Greetings,” the Brazat said. “How can I help you?”
“We are here to see a Mashgol named Jangal,” Luke said looking around.
The Brazat smiled, showing many sharp wicked teeth. “You are expected Sentient Luke. If you will follow me, I will lead you to Sentient Jangal.”
Leonessa looked around.
“This is common in hive cities,” Brita said next to Leonessa. “It is part grocery store, and part restaurant. In the back, there are numerous rooms and chambers where people can prepare and eat their food in privacy. That is good because you don’t want to see a Kadesh eating.”
Leonessa nodded, trying to imagine who the Kadesh were and why, perhaps they ate their food live?
The Brazat ducked its head in acknowledgment to Luke and headed toward the back rooms. Leonessa looked at all the foods on the shelves as they walked by. The lettering and packaging was obviously different so the place must cater to different races. Her InnerBuddy placed an English translation over the alien script but even then, it made little sense to her. “Boorf,’ ‘Kaazta,’ ‘Moorak,’ and more.
“They don’t do their shopping online?” Leonessa asked Luke. It seemed like such a barbaric waste of time to have to go somewhere to select food that was not ready to eat.
Luke smiled and answered, “Some do. For others, it is a social event to pick out food to eat.”
Leonessa nodded as they headed into the back rooms. At the end of a hallway, the Brazat opened the door and motioned them in.
Musashi was the first one in and he motioned Luke and the others in.
When she entered, Leonessa looked around. At a low table crouched the Mashgol. The lighting was dim by human standards but Leonessa had no problems seeing. The Mashgol belonged to a race of burrowers, like badgers or moles. Leonessa recalled reviewing their history and evolution path. They had evolved on a world where six legs was normal. The Mashgol had six limbs. Being burrowers, the front pair of limbs were large and powerful, the middle limbs had opposable thumbs and worked well for fine work, the rear limbs were also large and powerful for pushing and shoveling. Generally, the Mashgol walked on four limbs with their fine hands held up against their body.
The Mashgol looked up at them with brownish eyes set into an armored forehead. With six legs, it looked like an oversized bug but it was warm blooded. Briefly, the eyes flickered over Brita and Leonessa. The nose twitched and the eyes settled on Luke.
“Hello,” Luke said. “You said you had information for me?”
“Yes,” Jangal replied, his words translated by their InnerBuddies. “You wanted to know about some slavers who may have gained some unique slaves and also use Tonkan mercenaries?”
“Correct,” Luke said. “Do you have that information?”
“Yes,” Jangal said.
“What will that cost,” Luke asked.
“A breeding pair,” Jangal said.
“Say that again?” Luke said, anger in his voice, Leonessa hoped she had misunderstood the Mashgol.
“No,” Luke said. Leonessa could hear the anger in his voice and she wondered if the Mashgol could. “That is not a human custom.”
“Sad,” Jangal said. “I have learned that one of my enemies has captured four humans. Very rare in this sector. Unfortunately for him they are all male.”
“They are alive?” Leonessa asked.
Jangal blinked slowly.
“Yes,” it finally said. “Last I heard. They require a special environment but they are alive and being taken care of.”
“Perhaps a female then?” Jangal said. “A fertile one?”
“No,” Luke said.
Jangal blinked slowly and its nose twitched.
“We are at an impasse,” Jangal said. “I need something to place me ahead of my rival besides money. Something substantial.”
Luke crossed his arms and looked at Jangal.
“Nelson,” Luke transmitted on the team link. “I want you to find out what you can about any enemies that Jangal has and narrow it down to who employs Tonkan mercenaries.”
“On it,” Nelson replied.
“My species will go to war to free our people,” Luke said. “The Topa will grant the human race a license for violence if required.”
The Mashgol blinked slowly but remained silent.
“This I do not doubt,” Jangal finally said. “However, the problem remains. To be victorious over my rival, I must have something other than money.”
“Focus on other Mashgol,” Luke transmitted.
“Recon drone just picked up a mercenary team of Srakka,” Gray transmitted on the team link. “Squad strength, moving down the concourse in your direction, two hundred meters from the entrance, armed with assault weapons.”