Slave Trade

by Craig Martelle

  Red opened the airlock before anyone else became too emotional, and Lindy smirked at her chosen partner’s discomfort. His idea of being emotional was getting angry after being kneed in the groin.

  The sunny day belied the dark cloud hanging over them. The governor-general was already glad-handing his way toward a stage that had been set up at the edge of the capital city’s central park. His flagship hovered overhead, and the shuttle he’d used to land was parked in front of Rivka’s corvette. Their two ships took up all the available landing space.

  Rich Corranites who flew in for the live event would have to get dropped off. There was no executive parking. Rivka thought it would make her a target. The Federation’s Magistrate Corps logo was emblazoned on the side. There was no doubt who they represented.

  If the coup attempt was made, she wondered if her ship would be targeted.

  Red and Lindy walked up front, with Rivka and General Reynolds behind them. Ankh, Jay, Seequa, and Tyler followed. Rivka glanced back and saw Floyd bouncing happily along.

  If there’s any shooting, you protect Floyd, Rivka told Jay, not pleased that the wombat had left the ship. But if they attacked the ship, she’d be inside, alone and afraid. Maybe it was best that she stay with them.

  Hamlet was on his own. He never left the ship.

  If anyone attacks my ship, they need to be sanctioned with extreme prejudice, she said.

  I’m good with that, Red replied.

  Consider it done, Magistrate, Lindy added. She carried her railgun in a way that suggested she’d been born with one in her hands. It seemed like a natural extension of her body as she walked. Red was the same: comfortable but ready to engage an enemy.

  They both walked with a confident swagger, eyes never resting on one thing for long while they classified each person or object as a threat or non-threat.

  Rivka and General Reynolds only had eyes for the governor-general. He waved to the crowd, who gave him a half-hearted wave in return, but he angled toward the humans.

  When the two groups merged, the governor-general’s personal escort swarmed around Rivka and her team. Red and Lindy stood back to back in order to keep eyes on them all.

  I find it interesting that we’re given the closest access to their boss, Lindy offered.

  Maybe that’s part of the deal since General Reynolds is here, Rivka replied to her team.

  He is more important.

  It’s good that they agree. Would you look at that? Rivka asked, tipping her head toward the stage.

  Palatius Lore, Red confirmed.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Skaine cruiser

  “What is that thing?” the muffled voice of the ship’s commander came through an air filtering mask. Four Skaines slunk out from behind their stations on the bridge, plasma rifles aimed at Christina’s prone body. She remained in Pricolici form, and the steady rise and fall of her chest told them she was still alive.

  And thanks to her nanocytes, she was getting better with each passing second.

  But could she survive four more point-blank plasma bursts?

  “I’ve never seen anything like it,” another stated.

  “It’ll fetch a bulk of credits. Can we get the engines back online?” the commander asked. He stepped into the corridor and nudged the Pricolici with the barrel of his rifle. “I thought that was a human ship out there...”

  A hand blaster barked, and the Skaine’s head exploded in a mist of blue and gore. A second round took the next Skaine in the chest. The last two ducked onto the bridge as Christina’s eyes opened. She blinked to get her bearings and understand what was going on.

  The Skaines fired haphazardly into the corridor to suppress the incoming shots. They discharged their plasma rifles again, one after the other. Whoever had joined the battle had sought cover, the Pricolici reasoned, since the enemy was still firing.

  She bared her fangs and rolled to her stomach, then bunched her back legs beneath her, stifling a growl as the fire surged through her veins. The plasma rifle barrels appeared again and fired. Christina launched herself past the coming, grabbing both barrels and ripping them away from the startled Skaines.

  While the weapons went sailing across the bridge, the Pricolici slashed back.

  The last expressions on their faces morphed from surprise to shock. She stood over the bodies and roared her victory before settling on her haunches and changing back into human form. Her shipsuit had been modified to account for the changes, but the plasma blast had destroyed the front of the suit. When it contracted, her chest remained exposed. She grunted at it before ripping the jacket from a Skaine who had been too slow getting his mask on and draping it over herself.

  A warrior appeared behind her.

  “Are you all right, ma’am?”

  “I am. Thanks for the save, Private. Did you come through the airlock?”

  “Yes, but it’s now blocked. There’s only room for one mech suit in there.”

  Christina nodded and switched to the internal comm. Ship is clear. Ditch your mechs outside and get in here, people. Start securing these prisoners before they wake up. Smedley, get into their systems and determine if there’s anything we want before we decide if we’re going to keep it or scuttle it. And where in the hell is Team One?

  Sorry, ma’am. We’re still in the hold.

  And now you’ve welded yourselves in and can’t pressurize or get out?

  That doesn’t sound like the write-up I wanted to see on my medal, the team leader replied.

  Hurry up over there. We have some business to take care of, Terry Henry interjected.

  Amberly on Corran

  The governor-general worked his way to the stage, stopping to greet each of the dour dignitaries. He talked animatedly in a most un-Corranite way. General Reynolds and Rivka remained nearby, nodding courteously but not engaging the Corranites. Rivka pulled Ankh to her, keeping him close. The locals were far more interested in him than they were in the humans or their gregarious leader.

  Never take a politician for a fool. They didn’t get where they are because they don’t understand. They take in massive amounts of information and reduce that to an action that they can take that will appeal to the majority of the people. The governor-general knew that he had to tolerate the others on the stage, but he also had to placate those in the audience. Balancing the two was a politician’s perpetual challenge.

  He was polite to the humans but became animated once again when he brought the Crenellian to the fore. Ankh strolled along, small hands clasped behind his back as he tried to look attentive.

  Jay, Tyler, and Seequa didn’t climb onto the stage. They remained off to the side, next to the stairs. The former captive’s nostrils flared as she glared at the Corranites on stage.

  I’m not sure if we should be more wary of the people on the stage or those in the audience, Red complained. Request permission to take a position behind dignitary row. Lindy will remain next to the governor-general and the Magistrate.

  Sounds like a good plan, Rivka replied, looking back and forth between the two groups. She caught Palatius Lore staring at her with the look of a serial killer. She’d seen it before, and stared back. She tipped her chin to him and mouthed the words, “You die first.”

  Lore looked around as Red moved behind the row of dignitaries to stand behind him. When the governor-general’s aide tried to move, Red grabbed his shoulder and held him in place.

  Ignacio Mar ended his glad-handing and took his position behind the lectern. He held up his arms in the universal sign of victory, turning back and forth so everyone could see his exuberance.

  “What a great day to be alive!” he started.

  Rivka steeled herself not to react. She hoped, knowing that hope was a lousy plan, that when the day ended, those in attendance would still be alive. She expected that not all of them would see the sunset.

  “I asked for this gathering to announce a new and greater direction for the people of Corran. Greater profitability,
an improved standard of living, and travel to exotic places that were previously closed to us. How do we get there? That’s the question I’m going to answer shortly. But first, I’d like our Skaine representative to say a few words.

  Here we go, Rivka thought, clapping politely as Ankh stepped up a staircase that a stagehand had moved into place so the crowd could see him.

  “The Skaines have been providing capital for resale, but we have now ceased that operation.” He made to get down, but the governor-general wrapped a protective arm around him and waved to the silent crowd.

  Rivka’s lip twitched into a smile. Ankh hadn’t lied.

  “As you know, the Skaines provide less than half of those we route through our marketplace, but they aren’t the only ones who have shut down operations. Too many have been driven out of business, which has forced us to rethink our role in an expanding galaxy. No one wants to lose what they have, but lose it you will, regardless of how. If we let go and reach forward, we will progress as a people.

  “Hang on to what will inexorably be left behind, and you will be pulled into the abyss of irrelevance. Join me in moving forward. Corran will blossom like a Langiss Rainbow. It’s right there, and all we have to do is grab it.”

  Corranites were not prone to raucous celebration, but the words of support and encouragement were bold, filling the field with sound. No one clapped. It wasn’t their way.

  Be ready, Rivka said, more to herself than the others. Floyd wriggled out of Jay’s arms and landed on the stage with a thump that relayed through the microphone.

  The governor-general finally let go of Ankh, and the Crenellian hurried down the stairs. Floyd almost knocked him over in her joy at seeing him.

  “And now,” the Ignacio continued, giving the stagehand space to remove the small staircase. “The leader of the Etheric Federation, General Lance Reynolds.”

  The General moved forward, and Rivka grabbed the wombat and picked her up.

  Magistrate? Red asked, knowing that she couldn’t fight while carrying Floyd. Tension filled the stage from those with the most to lose. These fuckers are getting antsy.

  She ignored him and tried to look like she wasn’t hurrying to get rid of the wombat. She cooed in Floyd’s ear and headed for the stairs.

  “Good afternoon, esteemed citizens of Corran. I’ll keep this short because no one likes to stand around and listen to politicians. As of nine Yoll-standard time this morning, Corran is our newest member in what is a robust and growing alliance between civilizations. We believe that the whole is greater than the sum of our parts. We are better together. Welcome to the Federation.”

  Palatius ducked from under Red’s hand and started to bolt forward. With a ninja-like maneuver, the big man kicked Lore’s chair into his legs. The Corranite tripped and went down, and Red jumped to straddle him and drove a heavy fist into the back of his head. Lore’s face slammed into the stage. Red stepped back where he could see the others on the platform. Most of the dignitaries were standing.

  Red covered them with his railgun, but none challenged the bodyguard’s threat. Behind me? he asked.

  You’re clear, Lindy replied. She turned back to the audience, keeping the business end of her weapon pointed skyward. They appeared disconnected from the machinations on stage.

  The governor-general glanced behind him, shrugging at the prone form of his former aide. Ignacio stepped to the microphone and spoke again.

  “I will tell you about opportunity and a shining light ahead of us, but there will be a change to the way Corran conducts itself. Trading in the lives of sentient species is a significant part of our history, but has grown less and less over the years. It now accounts for less than twenty percent of our economy, and of that, less than five percent is from forced sales. Selling labor against their will is now a crime. By the end of the day, my office will transmit the required contractual provisions. Compliance with their inclusion is mandatory.”

  Rivka finally nuzzled the wombat sufficiently that Floyd let go. Jay took her back and reported over the internal comm, Incoming.

  A group of armed security headed toward the stage, where the governor-general was waving at them and pointing.

  Who do I shoot? Red asked.

  No one, Rivka replied. I think this is the counter-coup. He should have told us.

  The security team arrived on stage and started manhandling the dignitaries, pushing them into the middle of the stage where there was more room. As one, the rich and powerful dropped to the floor and the guards started firing.

  The Royal City of Khn’Chik on Yoll

  The High Chancellor was reading the latest sheaf of reports on his datapad as he waited for the Parmecium to come to. He had removed the top on the travel container and poured Beauregard into a bowl on the interrogation table. His device remained at hand if she needed to be neutralized. The box that translated her thoughts into human speech sat nearby.

  Grainger leaned against the wall, lost in his own thoughts.

  The liquid started to undulate, slowly at first, but then formed into a small shape that flowed from the bowl and started to expand. She assumed a humanoid shape and sat on her side of the table. Wyatt finished what he was reading and casually turned off his pad. He leaned back and took a deep breath but didn’t speak.

  “Where?” the Parmecium asked in her digitally-generated female voice.

  “Interrogation room, Khn’Chik detention center,” Wyatt answered.

  “Why?”

  “Tell us where to find Vaidyn.”

  “No.”

  “Yes,” Wyatt countered with equal indifference.

  “Okay,” Malagor Beauregard replied.

  “What?” Grainger blurted. “It never works that way!”

  The High Chancellor addressed the Magistrate’s surprise with an icy gaze. Grainger winced.

  “A Corranite.”

  “That is something we didn’t know, and it narrows it down. Which one?” Wyatt waited, but the Parmecium didn’t expound. “Answer that last question and I will open the door so you can walk out of here free and clear, with one caution. Don’t attempt to return to the slave trade. Should you be unable to control yourself, I will have you burned in the fire pits.”

  “Palatius Lore.”

  Bad Company Destroyer War Axe

  “We need to go!” TH almost yelled through the comm system. The hangar was buzzing with activity as the Skaine bodies were removed from the cutter. Technicians from the War Axe crew were swarming aboard to assess the ship and start making repairs.

  “The damn airlocks are too small, and my people are scattered across half the ship rounding up groggy blue-heads. I still have a team trapped in the hold, but we’re making progress there, too. Leave us here. We’ll figure it out, but don’t forget where we parked!”

  “Drop a resupply food can and punch it!” Terry shouted over his shoulder. Two warriors bolted for the aft storage area, where canisters were filled based on a variety of mission basics. The food canister contained food and water for a full platoon for a month. With only twelve warriors on the Skaine cruiser, they’d be well taken care of. TH expected the War Axe would be back in a matter of days. Twelve warriors weren’t enough to guard the hundred devious bastards they had in custody.

  The canister rolled by, with the two volunteers hustling it along. Four others joined them as they ran it to the open door and pushed it into the void of space. It floated toward the Skaine ship.

  “You might want to get someone to grab that thing before it smashes into you or skips past and disappears. And by all that’s holy, be careful,” Terry told Christina before switching channels. “Micky, Gate us out of here.”

  The War Axe shifted orientation to face away from the Skaine ship. The Gate formed, and the ship accelerated into it.

  Amberly on Corran

  Lindy tackled the General, powering forward to take down the governor-general too. She rolled to the side to shield them with her body.

  “Fuck, no!” R
ed roared, clicking his railgun to full auto as he shredded the Corranite ranks. Someone fired from behind him, hitting his legs repeatedly with heavy slugs. He staggered, and his barrel tipped toward the distinguished guests. He let off the trigger as a barrage of incoming fire slammed into his body. He stumbled and went down.

  Rivka dove on top of the two men, having no plan beyond that. She knew she had to do something, and started to dig in her pocket for Reaper. She was ready to unleash its power, if only she could find her targets.

  Lindy started firing from her position, but she couldn’t swing the barrel to take in all the targets. After Red went down, rounds started to impact Lindy. She grunted from the pain and stopped firing when a slug tore through her fingers.

  The insurrectionists stopped firing as Jay ran by the group huddled behind the stage, ripping the weapons from their hands. She dumped the slug throwers on the stage and leaned over to check on Red. A new round of fire started from the far side of the stage, closer to the audience.

  “Get down!” Rivka yelled as a slug hit Jay in the chest and sent her spinning head over heels and off the stage.

  The General was trying to rise, growling and grunting to get up without throwing people off. Rivka jumped to her feet and ran straight at the four Corranites who had been hiding in plain sight in the front row. They adjusted fire, but Rivka was already airborne, waving Reaper clicked to the highest setting.

  The shooters wilted like flowers before a flame. The last round fired creased the side of her face, upsetting her balance so she landed flat on her side, rolling to a stop before she collected her wits enough to stand. She backed up to the stage and looked for a new enemy.

  Tyler bolted across the stage, jumping over Red and vaulting off the stage to land next to Jay. He rolled her over to get a better look at her injuries. Seequa Holmes appeared on stage, ripping a slug thrower from one of the dead guards and stalking forward, looking for any Corranite to challenge her.