by Saxon Andrew
He hesitated and then walked out into the clearing. He kept his eyes moving and walked slowly up to the backpack. He immediately saw the blood scattered around it and it led away from the clearing into the tree line on the left. He went to the stream and saw the Admiral’s water container lying at the edge of the water. All along the stream were animal tracks and he shook his head. He lifted his communicator and pressed a button. “Have you carried out your orders?”
“No Sir. It appears I won’t have to kill the Admiral.”
“Why not?!”
“One of the predators in the forest beat me to it. Judging by the tracks at the stream, a Gorean Lion must have attacked, killed the Admiral, and drug her away into the forest.”
“You can’t be serious!”
“Sir, there’s blood everywhere and her thoughts were suddenly stopped. I’ve telepathically scanned this area and there’s nothing here.”
The telepath heard a laugh, “This is great! Her death can’t be traced back to us. In a few weeks we’ll go out and look for the body and the Prime Minister will hold a funeral for one of the Colonies Heroes. This is a gift!”
“Yes Sir. What do you want me to do?”
“Get out of there. Take the shuttle back to Fleet Operations and report to me when you arrive.”
“Yes Sir. On my way.” The assassin turned and ran out of the clearing and into the woods.
• • •
Kendal listened to the conversation and her expression turned angry. She lifted the blaster to kill the shuttle pilot before he ran away and the man put his hand on her arm and shook his head. Kendal suddenly turned the blaster on him. “That was Admiral Bellemy’s voice I heard and you’re on his staff.”
The man smiled, “Some things change Admiral.”
The man showed no fear and Kendal glared at him with a hate filled expression, “Why would Bellemy want me dead?”
“I don’t think Bellemy cares if you live or die but the Prime Minister want’s you removed.”
“Why? I’m a loyal officer in the Colony Navy.”
“Are you loyal to the Colonies or the Prime Minister?”
Kendal stared at the man and asked, “What’s the difference?”
“There’s a huge difference,” the man replied. “And the Prime Minister knows it. You have family on Britannia. If he ordered you to attack Britannia without warning, would you do it?” Kendal stared at him and the man added, “It’s a simple question; would you do it?”
“I’d want to know why I’m ordered to do that?”
“And there in lies the reason you have to be removed.”
“I should contact Admiral Bellemy and find out what’s going on.”
“If you do that, he’ll probably just kill you with a blaster from a warship; he can’t afford information getting out that he tried to have you assassinated.” Kendal stared at him and the man said, “You aren’t the first admiral eliminated; other accidents have taken place.”
“How did you manage to show up here?”
“I’d like someone else to tell you what’s going on if you’ll put that blaster away.”
“If Bellemy is determined to kill me, where can I go?”
The man stood up and smiled, “Please, come with me.” He walked out of the thickets into the clearing. Kendal was torn on what to do but this man had just saved her life. She holstered the blaster and followed him. He waded through the stream and stopped on the other side. Suddenly, Kendal saw a port open fifty yards ahead of her and the man headed toward it. Kendal hesitated and then followed him into the port. He led her to the bridge, and she saw a young woman sitting in the pilot’s chair. “Who are you?” Kendal asked.
“She’s the current Planet Leader on Britannia,” Stoney answered.
Kendal looked at Cami and said, “Do tell.”
Cami smiled and thought, “Tell Wade to start his transmission.” She turned to Kendal and smiled, “Stoney told me that your name was on the top of the list of admirals to be removed from their commands and I decided we couldn’t allow you to be executed without trying to save you.”
Kendal turned to Stoney, “And you knew this because?”
“I saw the list.”
Kendal’s eyes narrowed and Cami said, “Stoney was sent to Britannia to spy on us and I persuaded him that he was making a mistake.”
Kendal looked at Stoney and he shrugged, “I refused to believe her, but she had Maranda and Andrew Connor come and discuss the situation and I learned that the Prime Minister is going to try and make a power grab to rule all of humanity.”
Kendal put her hand on her blaster and Cami said, “Come on Kendal. You’ve just witnessed being set up for assassination; what other reason would they do that but to remove an officer they can’t completely control? You’re not dumb and you need to use your head. I’m getting the ship off the planet and you can kill us if you choose.”
Kendal stared at Cami and took her hand off her blaster, “Where are you taking me?”
“To see your parents.”
Kendal smiled and sat down in a chair that came out of the floor behind them. “Tell me what’s going on.” Cami nodded and began filling her in on everything.
• • •
While Cami was doing that, Stoney focused on the planet and found the Shuttle Pilot as he arrived at the shuttle. The Pilot began powering up the Shuttle and Stoney thought, “Have you even asked yourself why you were sent to kill one of the Colonies heroes?”
The Pilot’s head went back, “Who are you?”
“That’s really not important. But you followed her into the woods and heard her thoughts. Did you detect any treasonous thoughts in her mind?” The Pilot was silent, and Stoney continued, “You probably just tell yourself you were following orders and didn’t question them in the slightest. Why would it be necessary to kill Admiral Fry? You’re not stupid and you should at least try to understand why. Why are all the experienced fleet commanders being replaced by the Prime Minister? Why does the Prime Minister never take off his thought helmet? Sure, he says he’s preventing any Britannia agents from seeing his thoughts. But is that really the case or is he preventing you from seeing what’s in his mind? And why would Britannia be planning anything against the Colonies whose warships outnumber them more than ten to one and they’re more advanced as well.”
“It sounds like you are a Britannia agent.”
“No, I’m just someone that sees something isn’t right and wonders why everyone else refuses to look at what’s in front of their face without paying attention to it. You are remarkably intelligent, but you don’t use it. When all is said and done you may one day look back and realize just how stupid you are.”
The thought disappeared and the Shuttle Pilot shut down the shuttle. He sat in his chair and fought to determine who had just entered his mind.
• • •
Cami found a huge freighter lifting from the city and followed it into orbit. She moved the ship away from the planet and thought, “Charlotte, we have her. How is Wade doing?’
“They’re telling him a load of crap about one of their pilots that killed his commanding officer, stole a scout ship, and fled. They’ve been unable to find him, and they say he must have gone to hide on Britannia. They’re thanking us for removing him.”
“I suspect Wade’s transmission brought rain,” Cami replied.
“It did. All of their scanners on the planet and on their ships were turned toward Britannia. Cami, you shouldn’t have taken this risk. You’re too important to risk saving just one person.”
Cami allowed Kendal to hear her thoughts and Cami replied, “The life of one important person is just as important as a million others. Desmond, Louisa, and Kendal played a huge role in Britannia’s survival and we will never forget those that put their lives on the line for us. We can do no less than do the same for them.”
“Does Grady and Taffy know you did this?”
Cami hesitated and sighed, “No, and I expect they
will have something to say about it. It’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission.”
“Well, no harm, no foul. Welcome Kendal for me and I hope you don’t lose your hearing when they yell at you for doing this.”
Cami chuckled, “Taffy will scream at me, but Grady will keep his cool. I can live with just one person yelling at me.”
Charlotte laughed, “Better you than me. Tell Kendal I’ll record her funeral when it happens and send the recording to her.”
“Thank you Charlotte. Let me know if anything happens.”
“Will do. Stay safe.”
Kendal looked at Cami, “So, you did this rescue attempt on the spur of the moment?”
“I just learned about you being in danger,” Cami answered. “I came directly here to see if you were still alive.”
Kendal turned to Stoney, “And you don’t see yourself as a traitor to the Colonies?”
“No, I don’t. I’m a traitor to the Prime Minister and his lust for power but I believe I’m saving the Colonies from themselves. The safety of all humanity is what drives me to do this.”
Kendal released a breath slowly before saying, “I’ve wondered why Britannia would stop all communications with the Colonies.”
“We didn’t,” Cami replied.
Kendal’s eyes narrowed and Stoney said, “It was the Prime Minister that stopped all communications. I refused to believe it at first, but the evidence is overwhelming that he prompted it.”
Kendal nodded, “If that’s true, then you’re right; he’s planning something against Britannia.”
“You can see the recording of him stopping communications. But if you just look at all the evidence you’ve noticed, I’m sure you’ll see that he’s behind it.”
Kendal nodded slightly and thought about all the Senior Fleet Officers that had been replaced with less experienced Commanders. By the time they arrived at Britannia, she knew they were right.
• • •
The Shuttle Pilot finally lifted the shuttle and headed back to Fleet Headquarters. He was planning to report the invasion of his thoughts but then worried that it might cause Admiral Bellemy to consider him a…liability. He had sworn that he would not look at the minds of any one in the government or military. That realization made him cautious and curious why they wouldn’t want to be examined, especially if they had the Colonies welfare at heart. That telepath’s thoughts weren’t angry or judgmental; they actually expressed a level of…sadness. He was right about the Prime Minister never taking off the thought blocking helmet. But why was that so important? They could find out everything they needed to know by simply looking at Admiral Bellemy’s mind or any of the other Fleet Leaders. There had to be another reason.
He shook his head and wondered why he had not really tried to see what was really going on. He sighed and knew it was due to his love of the Colonies and all they stood for…but…what if something else was taking place. Being sent out to kill Admiral Fry had to be the test to see if he could be trusted. And was that red fluid really blood? Was she actually dead? Going back was not something he could do. Besides, he was better off if he didn’t know. If she was still alive, then they’ll believe he played a role in it. He put those thoughts into the deeper recesses of his mind as he landed the shuttle and headed to Admiral Bellemy’s office. Bellemy had another telepath on his staff whose sole function was to make sure no one entered the Admiral’s mind. But he didn’t have to enter the Admiral’s mind to hear his thoughts when they were face-to-face. He had just refused to listen in the past.
• • •
He entered Bellemy’s office and felt the Major’s thoughts examining him from a desk across the room from Bellemy’s desk. He kept the events from the forest in the front of his mind as Bellemy stood up and smiled, “Please, sit down.” He went to a chair in front of Bellemy’s desk and Bellemy asked, “Are you certain about the Admiral being killed by a Gorean Lion?”
“It had to be some kind of large Predator Sir. Her thoughts suddenly ceased and by the time I arrive a few minutes later, the body was gone. It had to instantly kill her and carry the body off into the woods. All I sensed before her thoughts stopped was shock.”
The Major turned away from him and stopped listening to his mind. Bellemy glanced at the Major and he nodded. Bellemy turned back to the Pilot and smiled, “That’s great news. We’ll announce that she disappeared on a camping trip in the wilderness.”
“Sir, are there any other traitors that need to be removed?”
Bellemy stared at the telepath and said, “Admiral Fry has parents on Britannia, and it’s been discovered that she had been in contact with them revealing information about our military. Removing her in the forest was better than a trial revealing the treachery of one of the Colonies supposed heroes. It’s better for everyone to do it this way.”
The Telepath instantly nodded, “I agree Sir. If you need me again, I’ll be ready.”
Bellemy stared at the telepath and smiled, “I think I have a mission for you if you’re up to it.”
“What is that Sir?”
“We’ve lost one of our scouts on Britannia and the Prime Minister wants another sent in to examine the minds of their military leaders. I didn’t know that a special ship to carry out that mission is available, and I’ve been looking for someone brave enough to do it.”
The Major looked up from his desk and the telepath allowed some fear to be seen, “Is this a one-way trip Sir?”
“No, you’ll have the means to escape.”
“Sir, I’ll do whatever you deem needed to protect and defend the Colonies.”
The Major nodded at Bellemy again and Bellemy smiled, “I’m sending you to the construction site where the ship is located. You’ll be trained on it and begin your mission as quickly as possible.” Bellemy looked at the Major, “Give Captain McKay the papers necessary to enter the construction site along with anything else he needs to start his training.”
The Major turned to his computer and replied, “Yes Sir.”
Thirty minutes later, Devin McKay left Admiral Bellemy’s office and boarded the shuttle still parked on the roof. Over and over in his mind he kept hearing Bellemy thinking, “Does this telepath know we’re taking over the military.” Whoever sent those thoughts to him was right; he was acting incredibly stupid. Admiral Kendal had done nothing wrong and she was targeted for assassination simply because she wasn’t trustworthy. She might think for herself and that would pose a danger to their plans. He realized that without that telepath speaking to him, he would have continued ignoring what was happening. He had to be careful and not allow his inner thoughts to be examined while training for this mission.
• • •
Three weeks later, he boarded a military freighter, was taken across the Milky Way, and left for Britannia’s star. He was instructed that a scout was assigned to him who would be waiting inside his telepathic range to receive anything he managed to uncover. The scout followed him to the other side of the star from Britannia and left him there to begin his approach to the planet. He was in a box and wasn’t sure how he could get out of it. The Scout Pilot insisted on regular contacts and there was no getting out of it. He blew out a long slow breath and headed toward the planet. He found three Britannia Warships headed toward the planet and he fell in behind them. He flew in close to the planet’s surface and broke away from them before landing outside the large city in the forest surrounding it. He changed into civilian clothing and contacted the Scout, “I’m staying on the ship for two days and listen to the thoughts around me to see if I’ve been detected.”
“That’s a good plan.”
“If nothing shows up, I’m leaving the ship and headed toward their Fleet Operations Building and see what I can hear from outside it. I’ll let you know if anything turns up.”
“I want you to stay in contact with me when you do that,” the Scout replied.
“I’m not going to do that!”
“Why not?!”
&
nbsp; “You know they’ll have numerous telepaths in that building and they’ll detect us if I do. If I encounter any problems, I’ll contact you immediately.” The Scout reluctantly agreed.
Two days later, Devin contacted the Scout, “I’m leaving now. I’ll contact you on the telepathic communicator when I get back to the ship.”
“If you encounter any problem, contact me immediately.”
“I hope that doesn’t happen, but I will do so.”
• • •
Devin walked out of the woods with a backpack over his shoulder making it appear he had been camping and checked into a hotel. He was surprised that the hotel didn’t require any identification to check in and he paid with counterfeit Britannia currency. He wasn’t worried about the currency being discovered; the computer that fabricated it was remarkable. He left the hotel in the early afternoon and walked down the busy street toward the tall building a mile away. He was wondering how he could open a conversation with someone without the scout finding out. He arrived at the tall building twenty minutes later and sat down on a bench outside it. What to do, what to do?
After ten-minutes, a young girl around seven or eight years old walked up and sat down on the bench beside him. She smiled at him and opened a notebook she was holding in her hands. She turned to the first page and held it up for him to read, “The scout that’s assigned to you has a telepathic scanner beam on you so don’t broadcast any thoughts…understand?” Devin’s eyes narrowed and he nodded. The little girl turned the page and he read, “I can see you are conflicted in your thoughts about what’s happening on the Colonies and you’ve come here to try and resolve those conflicts…right?” Devin’s eyes narrowed and he nodded. She turned to the next page and he read, “What happens now is up to you. Do you want to maintain your current status with that scout, or do you want to be released from it? Nod if you want to keep the status and shake your head if you want to be removed.” Devin thought about it and shrugged. The little girl giggled and turned the page. He read, “That scout can hear anything you say but it can’t hear what you’re thinking. I’m going to link you in telepathically to someone. That scout cannot detect my link and you’ll be able to communicate through me. Do not attempt to use your telepathy during the conversation, the scout would detect it; nod if you understand.” Devin didn’t believe this little girl’s link could not be detected but he nodded that he understood.
