***
“The chicken fried steak is delicious,” I said as Gnatia marched up to my table. “But the mashed potatoes leave a lot to be desired. Grab a tray and join me.”
“We’re only meeting here because Admiral Folkert went above my head,” Gnatia growled. “I did get you pulled from the mission so you can’t pull anything funny.”
I ignored him as I shoved a large piece of breaded chicken into my mouth. He stewed as I chewed and gnashed my teeth at his pronouncement.
“So, what are we discussing?” I commented after swallowing the chicken past the lump in my throat. “Thanks to you, I’ve got all day. But know this, after reports come back from Construction station, I’ll be unavailable.”
“Why is that?” he demanded.
“Because, I’ll be flying the follow-up mission,” I said glaring at him. “Ask your questions.”
“Explain how you got behind the Constabulary units on the staircase,” he challenged. “Then supported two Marines who allegedly did a frontal attack up the steps.”
“Commander Gnatia. Those Marines were wounded and exhausted,” I said. “One was partially blind but he didn’t hesitate. You wouldn’t know anything about true courage, would you? I climbed an air duct shaft to get behind the Constabulary units.”
“Got you. Naval intelligence said the nearest air shaft was six compartments from the site of the supposed action,” he declared. “The staircase acts as the duct for that sector of the station.”
“Please Commander, I sprinted into position,” I lied. “If you read near the last part of my report, you’d see where most of the Constabulary units are located at access points near the Marines. Behind them, there are only roaming patrols.”
“But the analyst from naval intelligence said it would take an hour to sneak from the air shaft to the staircase,” Gnatia said. “You would need to sneak and hide to make it undetected.”
“Commander, have you read my report?” I asked.
“Well, no. It’s classified. I’ve only reviewed unrestricted briefs,” he admitted.
“Has it occurred to you that someone wants you focusing on me and not on Specialist Tassila’s network?” I asked. “You have a Heavy Cruiser about to go into harm’s way to launch a relief convoy. Yet you question me and ask Strikers about me. Even if I were a spy and turncoat, I’m only a pilot. No danger to the ship. Who out there could do real damage?”
Gnatia sat down heavily and stared at his PID. After a few seconds of thinking, he spun by a few screens before typing furiously on the device.
“Engineering, communications, the armory,” he said listing potential flash points.
“The Bridge,” I suggested. “And don’t forget naval intelligence,”
“Naval intelligence,” he repeated. “Specifically, a certain analyst.”
While he sent security details around the ship, my PID pinged.
‘Lieutenant Piran. You have been assigned temporary duty,’ Admiral Folkert’s message stated. ‘Report to the Yacht Elouan for further instructions.’
I reached across the table and tapped Lieutenant Commander Gnatia on the arm. He glanced at the message, shook his head in understanding, and went back to his PID. Seemed the political officer had more important tasks than questioning me.
***
My luggage consisted of a sea bag with clothing and shoes, and a small suitcase with shaving gear and a few personal items. After all my years of military service, I realized these were my only possessions. Although I had Pesetas in the credit union, I owned nothing that couldn’t be replaced. The Clan strap, Knight’s gear and fighting sticks, I figured, belonged to the Druids. As I pondered my life, Elder Corentin and three Druids stepped through the hatch. They headed towards me with their free-flowing brown robes brushing the deck.
“Courier, you are charged with protecting the seed,” Corentin said meekly. Then with enthusiasm added, “Safe travels, Knight.”
For an Elder on a ship with a Red Heart plant, he was pretty relaxed. Usually the cinnamon aroma and pollen from the color brought out an aggressive streak. But he held out the seed case slowly, almost gently.
The Druids had wrapped security tape around the case. I reached out and took it from his hands. Then, I paused.
“Why the security tape?” I asked.
“So, no one will steal the White’s seed,” he replied quickly. Almost too quickly, almost as if he had rehearsed the reply.
‘Take the case and go,’ one of the Druids in the Elder’s party thought.
A Druid family develops unique thought patterns. Like accents in close knit communities, people who share the same space usually share speech mannerisms. The odd accent of thought meant at least one of the Druids with Corentin had recently arrived on the Heavy Cruiser.
I rubbed the bridge of my nose as if I had a headache. It was a delaying tactic. Something was out of whack here. The thought from the Druid didn’t match the patterns from the shipboard Druids. He obviously was one of the new Druid warriors. Along with Corentin’s relaxed attitude and the security tape around the case, my suspicion grew.
“Why is there security tape on the seed case?” I asked again.
“So, no one will steal the White’s seed,” Corentin repeated the phrase in exactly the say way. Then added, “Safe travels, Knight.”
‘Begone Folk!’ the thought hit me with force. Not only was the unknown Druid thinking the idea, he was attempting to cloud my mind in pollen mumbo-jumbo. This time, instead of blocking the intrusion, I let my body respond.
I set the seed case down, squatted beside it, and shoved my hands into the muffler on the Clan strap. My arms emerged. Leather arm guards wrapped around my forearms and over the back of my hands. I snapped open one of the Knight fighting sticks. With the black alloy tip, I sliced through the security tape.
“Open the seed case, Elder Corentin,” I ordered while rising and stepping back.
He hesitated and glanced at the biggest of his three companions.
‘Take the case and leave,’ the Druid powered the idea at me.
His mistake. I snapped opened the second fighting stick before replying.
‘I am death to the war people or any who would dare harm a Druid or a member of our Clan,’ I concentrated and let my enhancements magnify my thoughts.
The big Druid rocked back and focused his eyes at me. Good, I had his attention.
‘I am the horror in the night, a thing of nightmares and blood,’ I tossed at his mind. ‘All Druids will render me aid and obey me or suffer. I am the Knight Protector of the Clan.’
Placing the toe of my boot on the seed case, I nudged it enough to slide closer to Elder Corentin.
“Open the seed case,” I growled.
The Knight wanted obedience or blood. It didn’t matter which. I fought to keep control but the big Druid wouldn’t shut up.
‘Leave, Knight,’ he sent with authority.
As Senior Lieutenant Piran, I harbored resentment for people who tossed around their influence. It was a character flaw and I almost let myself go full Knight Protector of the Clan. Before I lost control, the Captain of the Yacht Elouan bounced out of the air-lock tube.
“Lieutenant Phalen Oscar Piran, can I help you with anything?” Captain Tanguy asked.
“Clear the naval personnel from the departure lounge,” I sneered at him. “And turn off the lights on your way out.”
Tanguy had two things going for him. He’d been transporting Druids for over a decade and was familiar with their odd behavior. Also, the Yacht’s captain had an excellent sense of self preservation.
There were three people standing at the long counter, an air-lock tech on the far side of the lounge, and one person asleep in a chair. Tanguy may be older, but he made quick work of clearing the lounge. The only delay was the sleeping guy. The Captain and he exchanged words before Tanguy reached down and pulled the man to his feet. The Druids missed the sleight of hands and I barely caught it. As the man strolled away
, Tanguy pushed the man’s back with one hand while lifting the man’s pistol out with the other. Tanguy dropped the pistol on the back of the chair’s cushion. As he herded the last person through the hatch, the lights went out.
***
Druids were no different than Folks when it came to watching an old man wave his arms expressively in the air while he ran around the area. They tracked the loping Tanguy and I slipped a hand into a pouch. By the time it went dark, the Knight’s gear was in my hand.
The big Druid was fast. While I rolled away from the location where I was standing, he managed to pull a pistol and place three kinetic rounds where my body was a half second before.
I rolled over backwards while slipping on the Knight’s trousers. By the time I came to my feet, the doublet was over my head and the hood pulled down. The departure lounge lit up with hot spots.
Heat signatures identified Elder Corentin, the big Druid and the two others. The three had spread out in an arrow formation. I assumed by their coordinated movements, they were members of the Druid Warrior detachment. An arrow formation worked because all three men watched their sector to protect the unit. Also, they could all shift bringing concentrated fire on a target. Excellent strategy, if you could see in the dark.
“Open the seed case,” I shouted while shifting away from my location.
The big Warrior fired another two rounds at the empty spot. I glided around behind the three Warriors. It was tempting to put one down along the way, but I held off.
By the time Corentin bent, unzipped and opened the seed case, I materialized behind him. Over his shoulder, I could make out a pile of hardwood and some soil. About the same mass and volume, but definitely not the seed from a White Heart plant.
“Bring me the seed, Elder. Or you will die in shame and agony,” I whispered before rushing over to the chair.
Luckily for the Elder, the Warrior held his fire this time. I needed to know why the seed had been kidnapped. If that was the correct term? And what did the Druid Warriors have to do with it? I snatched up the pistol and jogged halfway to the counter.
“Your name, Druid Warrior?” I asked before racing closer to the counter.
“Major Bríet of the Forest First Sentinels,” he replied. “You should have gotten on the Yacht, Lieutenant Piran.”
“But then, I would have missed all the fun,” I said loudly before running behind the counter. “What’s a Forest First Sentinel?”
Elder Corentin vanished through a side hatchway at the back of the lounge. If he was with the Forest First Sentinels, I believe he would have stayed. With him running off, I had a fifty-fifty chance of him returning with the seed.
“The Heart Plants feel unsafe. Not satisfied with their protection by the military,” Bríet explained. “Consider Construction station. The Navy is out here running drills while the Heart Plants are butchered. We’re here to stop the Constabulary and protect the plants.”
While he spoke, one of his Druids shifted to flank me.
“Major, have you, or any of your men, dealt with a Knight Protector of the Clan?” I inquired.
“You make me laugh with this talk of an archaic title,” Bríet said. “We trained. With Druid masters and former military instructors. I say again, you should have gotten on the Yacht.”
“Tell your man on the left to sit down,” I said. “Or, I will sit him down.”
“Of course, Folk humor,” the Major said doing a fake laugh. Then with confidence challenged, “Do what you will, Knight.”
He had no intention of stopping the Druid who was sneaking towards the sound of my voice. I did. So, I reeled in my civilized mind and let the Knight free.
***
My pulse rate increased and I got angry. How dare these Druids challenge a Knight Protector of the Clan? The thing that saved their ungrateful lives was they hadn’t touched me or harmed a Druid.
I vaulted the counter, ran two steps, and dropped to my knees. Letting momentum carry me towards the encroaching Druid, I aimed at a spot in front of him. The kinetic round impacted the deck, ricocheted at a low angle, and clipped the Druid’s leg after passing under the hem of his robe. He collapsed to the deck and grabbed his leg. Hopping to my feet, I ran by him. As I passed, the butt end of my pistol impacted his forehead.
In seconds, I had circled around behind the last two. On the other side of the formation, I swiped the tip of my fighting stick along the Druid’s wrist. He was well trained and didn’t drop his weapon. Instead, he shoved it between his knees before using the fingers on his other hand to probe the wound.
I snatched the pistol from between his knees and placed the barrel against his cheek.
“Sit or die,” I growled while pressing the barrel into his face. He sank to the deck and I added, “Move, crawl or stand and you will die.”
I backed away until I was on the far side of the departure lounge.
“Care to tell me why you stole the seed?” I called across the room.
Major Bríet spun around at the sound of my voice.
“You wouldn’t understand, Lieutenant Piran. Forest First Sentinels are charged with protecting all plants living away from Uno,” he replied. “By the way, you will be brought up on charges for attacking a superior officer.”
“Actually Major, it’s you who fired at me,” I said. “And, I haven’t touched you. Now, tell me why you want the seed.”
“My duty isn’t your concern,” he replied.
“It is if it concerns Druids or a member of the Clan,” I reminded him. “A Knight will act when either are threatened.”
“As you have demonstrated,” he stated.
He tucked the pistol into his robe. Calling on my will, I calmed myself and let the anger fade. I wasn’t going to get any satisfaction from the F.F.S. Major. Help was required to end this without further bloodshed so I reached for the bracelet on my wrist.
The Marine Corps Sergeants Association had given me the bracelet. It was simple in design with G.C.M.C. spelled out in raised letters and set in a wide band. The ‘M’ and ‘C’ were buttons. By pressing the ‘M’, a Marine Corps’ NCO would come to my aid. If I pressed the ‘C’, I called upon a frightening power. I choose to press the ‘C’.
While I waited, I stripped off the Knight’s gear and stowed it in the pouch. Then, I typed a message to Lieutenant Koloman, the JAG officer. Just as I hit send, the lights flashed on and a squad of armed combat Marines flowed into the lounge.
The riflemen spread out to either side of the hatchway. As they entered, each Fireteam selected targets so their rifles stayed trained on the three Druids and me during the insertion. When their Sergeant stepped through the hatch, I raised a hand and waved. He spotted the bracelet.
“I’d like a word, Sergeant,” I called to him. “Great response time, I might add.”
“We aim to please, Lieutenant,” the Sergeant stated flatly as he marched up to me. “How can the Marine Corps be of service?”
“I’m thinking about charging the big Druid with disorderly conduct,” I said pointing at the Major. “But I’m in transit so I’m waiting for a JAG officer to get his opinion.”
“You’ve got two bleeders, Sir,” he noted. “Are they being charged as well.”
“We’ll let Lieutenant Koloman decide.”
***
Koloman wasn’t please with my request to charge the commander of the Druid’s Forest First Sentinels. As a matter of fact, he threatened to charge me. But the Knight thing made that a problem and he knew it. Our dilemma was solved when Elder Corentin arrived with seven of the ship’s Druids.
I knew they were with him because they came down the corridor in a protective formation surrounding their Elder. Plus, their fighting sticks were drawn and they glared at the Major and his two wounded Druid Warriors.
“Bríet asked to see the White’s seed,” Corentin explained. “He took it by holding three of our children hostage.”
“How are the children?” I inquired knowing one simply did not mes
s with the Druids’ off springs.
“The children are well. His Warriors require medical attention,” the Elder replied.
“Kidnapping, and attacking a Navy Senior Lieutenant,” I stated while turning to Koloman. “Seems like more than disorderly conduct.”
“This is a Druid matter,” the JAG officer announced. “However, I can have Major Bríet confined to quarters for as long as the Sentinel units are on An Tiodhlac Òir. He can run his operations from there.”
I looked at each of the ship’s Druids. They were all infused with the power of the Red Heart plant’s pollen. And, they were angry at the taking of their children.
“Lieutenant Koloman, I agree the Major needs to be confined to his quarters,” I said. “Not only as punishment, but also for his own protection.”
The JAG officer looked at the scene and nodded his acknowledgement of my statement. He understood the taking of children from a Red Heart’s family, or any family of Druids, was a death sentence for the offending party. Major Bríet wouldn’t be safe walking around the Heavy Cruiser and he’d need to sleep with guards nearby.
I wish I had him alone to ask what madness caused him to take the children. Why would he risk his life for the White Hearts seed?
“The Forest First Sentinels will receive no aroma from the Red Heart plant,” announced Corentin.
Not only would Bríet be in danger from the ship’s Druids, his command wouldn’t be happy with him. Manufactured air always had a machine oil and chemical smell from the process. His Druid Sentinels, when they returned from the mission, would miss the fresh cinnamon aroma. And, they’d make their feelings known.
I strolled over to the Major and leaned in close to his ear.
“If I knew about the children,” I whispered. “You would have a deep ‘C’ carved in your forehead. It is pronounced by a Knight Protector of the Clan.”
The words were a promise. If he and I crossed paths again and he violated another Druid family, he would die by the Knight’s hand.
While I conversed with Bríet, one of the ship’s Druids floated to the seed case. From a sling around her neck, she carefully took out the White’s seed. Once it was secured in the case, the Druid lifted it and carried the seed and case to me.
On Point (Galactic Council Realm Book 4) Page 15
