by S. H. Jucha
While the traveler made for the Jatouche medical station, Sam maintained his link with Jess and Lucia.
Renée and Alex, who had unobtrusively ridden Julien’s link, regarded each other.
“Tough situation,” Alex commented. “I’m more than happy to stay out of it.”
“Is that fair?” Renée asked.
“I don’t believe the question of fairness applies here, Ser,” Julien said. “This is an outpost matter. Jess is the senior officer in command. It’s his duty to decide these types of problems. If we interfere, then this station appears to be an extension of Omnia.”
“And the next time an incident like this one occurs, the commander’s decision won’t be respected,” Renée finished.
“Unfortunately, Ser, that’s correct,” Julien replied.
“What would you do with them?” Alex asked Renée.
Renée laughed. It was shaky and uncertain. “I’ve no idea, but I know what I wouldn’t do.”
“What?” Alex inquired.
“I wouldn’t punish them with a sentence of extended incarceration,” Renée replied.
“Why not?” Alex pursued, intrigued by his partner’s answer.
“I think this is the outpost’s first test of authority,” Renée replied. “There can’t be a trial ending with a sentence that effectively makes the Usaanans disappear. The situation is too politically charged.”
“I don’t think there can be a trial, Ser,” Julien said. “The directorate has sent ten individuals, who are offered as the guilty parties. The commander can’t try them in some sort of court. Otherwise, he’d be denying the directorate’s authority. In addition, there’s little evidence against the majority of the prisoners. According to the major and the lieutenant, only three serpents can be definitively linked to crimes.”
“Essentially, the commander must pass sentences without a trial or evidence,” Renée concluded. When she regarded Alex and Julien, they nodded in agreement. “I’m with Alex,” she said. “I’m happy to stay out of this one.”
28: Judgments
Candace’s traveler landed aboard the medical station. As soon as the bay was charged with air, techs rushed to help with the teams, who descended the ramp with their patients floating in tanks.
With dome security’s attention diverted, the sand serpents made their break.
Candace never knew what the Usaanans planned. Later, she theorized that they intended to take hostages and negotiate for their freedom or lesser judgments.
The bow group of security faced the serpents, the correct direction, but the aft group was watching the med techs move the tanks. Of the aft group, only Candace’s eyes never left the serpents.
When the prisoners made their break, they swarmed to the ship’s rear, attacking the nearest security members. The aisle’s width only allowed two individuals at a time from each side, attackers and defenders.
Before the first two defenders could swing their weapons, they felt the fangs of the sand serpents sink deep. The Earthers screamed and struck back with shock sticks, using them as batons. Their defense was minimal, as the massive amount of deadly venom quickly affected their nervous systems’ responses.
The defenders’ screams alerted the other aft-facing security forces, and weapons were yanked, as the serpents continued their attacks.
A Sylian issued a cat-like war cry, as she waded into the serpents, beating and stunning. She took numerous fang strikes, but she stunted the prisoners’ assault.
By the time the Sylian fell, Candace had snatched an energy weapon from the pack of the nearest security member, an Earther.
“Clear the way,” Candace yelled, and the security forces dived out of the aisle to stand atop seats along the hull.
The Usaanans were left in the aisle suddenly facing a Pyrean wielding an energy weapon. Immediately, they slid to a halt.
“The first one of you who moves will kill all of you,” Candace said. She kept her weapon trained on the closest serpent, but the weapon’s beam would clear the entire aisle of sentients.
“Desist,” a Usaanan hissed, and Candace marked that serpent as the leader.
When the serpents coiled, Candace ordered, “Stun them. I want every one of them unconscious.”
The bow security forces carefully approached the serpents from the rear. They stunned two and waited, prodding them with boots to ensure they were comatose. Then they stepped over those individuals and did the same to the next pair. None of the serpents resisted.
Candace surveyed the aftermath. Three of the dome’s security forces lay dead, and she was incensed that she hadn’t taken better precautions.
The concerned faces of medical techs stared at Candace from the ramp.
“We’ll take the dead, Lieutenant,” a tech said, as he and others advanced up the ramp into the ship’s interior.
The techs carefully lifted the bodies of the dead security, laid them at the stern, and called for stretchers. When the bodies were evacuated, the pilot closed the ramp, and the traveler continued its journey.
Candace made her second call to the outpost.
Candace relayed her recording of the events aboard the traveler.
“Black space,” Lucia whispered softly to Jess, when she saw the serpents’ swift attack.
Jess sent.
Jess dropped the links and regarded Lucia. “Something you said has got me thinking,” he mused. “You asked, ‘What did the serpents hope to gain?’ I’m wondering about that too. What if it wasn’t meant to be about gaining freedom?”
“What else co
uld it be?” Lucia inquired.
“What would make the outpost look politically poor in light of our holding these prisoners?” Jess asked.
“I see,” Lucia said, thoughts running through her mind. “Escape wasn’t the goal. It was the deaths of the security force.”
“That’s my thinking,” Jess said, nodding. “I think the directorate set this up, and these Usaanans are playing out the gambit.”
“These Usaanans aren’t just sacrifices,” Lucia reasoned. “They’ve a further role. They kill some of our people, proving they’re criminals. Then the outpost takes revenge on them through a judicial process, proving our willingness to treat sentients in a like manner. We’re seen for our disregard of alliance norms. Can we be sure of this?”
“There’s one point in Candace’s vid that speaks to this point,” Jess said. “When faced with an energy weapon, one of the Usaanan directs the others to cease and desist.”
“And?” Lucia prompted.
“The object of the attack was to kill, not be killed,” Jess explained.
“Otherwise, they wouldn’t face our judgments, possible death sentences, and the probability of a politically grand faux pas on our part,” Lucia concluded.
“That’s about the size of it,” Jess commented.
“So, what are we going to do with them?” Lucia asked.
“Good question,” Jess replied. “Still thinking on that.”
* * * * *
Jess’s answer arrived aboard the RES Drake in the form of Queen Homsaff. Although, at the time, he didn’t know it.
After a short, joyful reunion with Alex and Renée, Homsaff reported to the outpost’s trio for her debrief.
“No losses of lives or ships to report, Commander,” Homsaff announced proudly. Then she continued to itemize the successes.
“Congratulations to you, your troops, and the carrier crew, Queen Homsaff,” Jess replied, when the report had finished.
Homsaff chuffed in recognition of the praise that she considered was her due. In the audience, Hessan and Simlan, her senior squad leaders, rose on their hocked legs, and their chests swelled.
“What of the new techniques the Colony is using in the shuttle tubes?” Mickey asked.
“Commander Sastisona was the first to encounter the Colony’s new tactic,” Homsaff explained. “She warned the rest of us. It was fortunate that none of the other three carriers were soon to engage domes before the message arrived.”
“That would have been weeks ago,” Lucia noted. “What was your alternative to regaining the domes?”
“We focused on the planets,” Homsaff replied. “We had only recently deployed. I couldn’t return so soon. The warriors would have been severely disappointed.”
The audience, including the outpost trio at the front, chuckled or laughed. While most troops grimly faced the dangerous close battles with the Colony’s reds and grays, the Dischnya warriors lived for conflict.
While Homsaff answered questions from Lucia and Mickey, she noted that Jess regarded her quietly.
Homsaff ended her conversation with Jess to respond to Lucia’s question, but despite her jest, the commander had something on his mind that required her participation.
“Mickey and his teams are working on a plan to defeat the Colony’s tube tactic,” Lucia said. “The Drake will remain on station until something is devised.”
“Understood, Admiral,” Homsaff replied, which ended her debrief.
As Homsaff stood, the trio followed suit. That energized the remainder of the audience to join them, and Lucia led the salute to the queen. Afterward, the audience filed out of the conference room.
Jess signaled Sam, Lucia, and Homsaff to stay. In turn, she requested Hessan and Simlan remain.
The six participants moved to sit around a small table, and Jess opened the conversation. “The outpost has a politically sensitive dilemma,” he explained.
Sam encapsulated his investigation, and Jess explained the events at the Tsargit. Finally, Lucia described the incident aboard Candace’s traveler.
“Where are the Usaanans now?” Homsaff asked.
“Incarcerated aboard the outpost,” Sam replied. “The commander has asked that they be kept separated and that no one enters their cells.”
“Why am I sitting here?” Homsaff asked, eyeing Jess.
“We haven’t been able to devise a suitable decision about what to do with the prisoners,” Jess replied.
“I’ve a suggestion,” Homsaff said. “During transfer to a ship, we could plan an airlock accident.”
Jess’s first thought was to laugh, except Homsaff’s yellow eyes were steady. She was serious.
“As desirable as that suggestion might be, it would only make the outpost appear complicit in handing out death sentences,” Jess said.
“You were regarding me during my report, Commander. What thought is brewing in your mind?” Homsaff inquired.
“Let me first ask a pertinent question,” Jess replied. “You’ve seen the attacks by the Usaanans against the major and the dome’s security forces.” He paused, then he added, “Do those actions give you concern?”
Homsaff’s head tilted to the side, as she attempted to parse what the commander was asking her. She placed the question in context to the general subject, which made the request clear. Then she chortled.
“The Usaanans are fast, but any Dischnya is faster,” Homsaff replied. “Furthermore, a serpent must launch a strike from the base, coiled or not. A Dischnya has mobility with which to defend against a strike or administer a judicious reprimand.”
Hessan and Simlan added their own chortles, having recognized by their queen’s answer what the commander wanted to know.
Jess smiled widely. “That’s good to know,” he said.
“That’s your answer for what to do with the prisoners, isn’t it, Commander?” Homsaff asked, and Sam and Lucia regarded Jess in surprise.
“Yes,” Jess replied. “It occurred to me during your briefing. I think we put the Usaanans through our holo-vid training system, and then we place them front and center in the fight against the insectoids.”
“The Dischnya are the only individuals who can safely accompany the serpents,” Homsaff noted. “My warriors will be hard-pressed to pay attention to the enemy and the serpents, at the same time.”
“True,” Jess agreed. He glanced toward Hessan and Simlan.
“Our queen is considerate of our safety,” Hessan remarked, “but I believe that the serpents’ anger can be mitigated and redirected.”
“I agree,” Simlan added. “It would be best if we were to train the serpents. That would give our squads an opportunity to teach Usaanans something about Dischnya.”
Jess watched the lips along Simlan’s grayed muzzle wrinkle in amusement. Then he regarded Homsaff for her response.
“My warriors have my confidence and support,” the queen replied. “I will observe the training before I make my final decision.”
When Jess frowned, Hessan sent privately,
“When would you like to start?” Sam inquired.
“From now on, Major, and with your permission,” Hessan said, “your security forces are excused from duty regarding the prisoners.”
Sam glanced toward Jess, who nodded.
“I’ll take you to the Usaanans’ confinement cells and explain the control processes. After that, they’re all yours,” Sam said.
Simlan and Hessan turned to each other. Their muzzles opened, and their tongues lolled to the sides of their lower jaws.
Sam sent privately to Jess.
Jess replied. He didn’t have any other solution to the sacrificial citizens who the directorate had dumped on the outpost. He needed this idea to work.
Sam led the Dischnya squad leaders out of the room.
Hessan and Simlan loped with light steps. Their downtime had just been transformed from boring to fascinating. Hessan signaled the warriors to query the station’s controller for his location. They were to join Simlan and him there.
Within an hour, the warriors were assembled, and Sam had reviewed the confinement protocols with them.
When the orientation was complete, Sam cocked his head. “You good?” he inquired of the squad leaders. “Would you like me to issue you shock sticks?”
Simlan held up a hand tipped with dark nails. “These are sufficient, Major,” he said, chortling.
Sam shrugged and stood back.
The Dischnya spread out along the row of confinement cells. The doors were wide and transparent.
Simlan touched the panel that opened the door of the individual who Candace had identified as the leader.
“What are you?” the leader, Uggert, hissed.
“I’m Simlan, a Dischnya, and I’ll be your trainer.”
“Training for what?” Uggert asked defiantly.
“All in good time,” Simlan replied good-naturedly. “First, we must proceed with your orientation and get acquainted. Come with me.”
Uggert stared hostilely at Simlan and refused to move.
The Dischnya sighed and stepped into the cell
In response, the Usaanan rose to his full height, swaying slowly back and forth.
“Are we going to have a disagreement before we even get to know each other?” Simlan asked.
Then Uggert struck, intending to sink his fangs into Simlan’s shoulder. Except, Simlan wasn’t there. Swiftly sidestepping, the Dischnya backhanded the Usaanan’s head.
