Eric Olafson, Captain Black Velvet 25

Chapter 25

I was still thinking about that meeting with the Karthanian as I sat at the table in our Den and had dinner the next day.

Har-Hi took a plate and sat next to me. He forked himself several slices of roast beef on an open bun he gave me a side look and said. “If I see you stare at your food that way I would almost suspect you are contemplating doing something about that Karthanian situation.”

I pushed a pea around with my fork and said. “Of course not, there is nothing we can do anyway. We are about to go on a trip to find some long lost Seenian Depot and end the reign of the Red Dragon at the same time. Besides, even if we had the time, we know nothing about that situation or any details. If done at all, that would be a job for a Ghost Recon Marine Unit and only after month of careful planning. Not that we have any business sticking our nose into Karthanian internal politics in the first place.”

He added onions to his sandwich and said. “I am glad you think that way, as it is exactly the point. It is not our business; it is not Union business. You heard the bone face, it will eventually happen anyway. Totalitarian governments suppressing their people with force never last forever. We should concentrate on what we are going to do about the Sinister Alliance and their base first and then finding that Seenian depot. Remember what trouble we had defeating a little one man ship? Imagine the Red Dragon having the use of a Devastator like ship filled with Seenian robots. It would not be good for anyone else finding that depot either.”

I pushed the plate away. “I don’t even like peas, I wonder why I put them on my plate.” Then I said. “No worries I was just thinking, that’s all. I just don’t like an unfair situation. There aren’t just Karthanians working those Smelters you know. I have been in those slave pens and heard that the Karthanians buy human slaves for that purpose as well. They operate mines on Kaliment and who knows where else. I despise slavery like nothing else. It is the ultimate unfair situation in my opinion.”

Har-Hi bit with gusto in his sandwich and chewing around his mouthful of food he said. “I don’t like the Shiss sending Dai to do their dirty work and I would love to find out what Cam Elf Na really plans, but there isn’t anything I can do either. Besides if you don’t like peas then eat a Roast beef sandwich, it is delicious. I just discovered something called mayonnaise and it makes a sandwich even better.”

There was no sense in me mulling over that anymore and said with a grin. “I can tell! You’ve got the stuff all over your face and a big glob of it on your armor.”

Mao joined us while Har-Hi used a napkin to clean himself. He too helped himself of the roast beef and started to fabricate something that looked more like a tower than a sandwich. While he added slices of cheese he said. “Captain I was thinking about that Red Dragon, why don’t we simply capture the guy, do a brain dump and be done with it?”

Narth who had silently appeared, watched Mao piling up things on his sandwich. Narth had a plate float to him while several slices of the meat zipped through the air and placed themselves on a bread bun that split itself in the middle.

While he was doing all that he answered Mao’s question for me. “Now that his Seenian suit interference is gone I was able to probe a little into his mind. He was a Union Admiral and has excellent psionic shielding like they all do. All Union Officers of Captain rank and higher are conditioned against mind dumps. Even the most effective interrogation method would yield no results. In addition to that he seems to rely on a very strong Kermac psi-damper. The Kermac are primitive about most aspects of technology, compared to the Union, but they have built a society on fear and mistrust and developed very complex methods to shield and hide knowledge and thoughts, mostly to be protected from the probing minds of their Thought Police.”

Mao pressed with all his strength down on the sandwich, compacting and reducing its size into a barely manageable size and sighed. “It was just an idea. Besides there are other interrogation methods, you can get all sorts of information if you start pulling teeth or start skinning.”

Narth turned his shrouded head.”This is barbaric and primitive!”

“But not without its merits.”

I said. “I never was conditioned against mind dumps.”

Narth turned to face me. “Captain, no force known to Narth could make you reveal any information you do not want to reveal. We also shared the Huhgavh, you are connected to me and all that s Narth including the Narth Supreme. Besides I am certain you did receive the finest Union tech conditioning at Pauli station. You do have Red-Red-Blue clearance after all.”

As he mentioned it I remembered and said. “If I was almost like you, I could do all those neat things you can, like making a sandwich without touching anything.”

He sounded amused. “I am touching it, just not with my hands and you could do all these things as well, but you do not do to the training exercises I have given you. Your abilities are dormant and not active and that is a good thing. Releasing them uneducated could be fatal to you and your surroundings. Alice is a good example for that and with all her strength she is but a spark compared to a sun once you realize your true power.”

“I don’t think so. My HPI index is below 50 and that is just as well. I got used to that Psionic stuff somewhat, but my opinion about it hasn’t really changed. I don’t like it all that much and if I have it I am glad it is switched off.”

The sandwich Narth made started to disappear in small segments and I could see him chewing underneath his hood.

“One agrees with Har-Hi. Mayonnaise is very good.”

To me he said in his silent mental way. “Your stubborn refusal to accept that you do have psionic abilities does not alter the fact and besides, your Heidelberg Psi Index was last measured when you entered the Academy, you have shared the Huhgavh with me and you are already able to sense the moods and feelings of beings alien to you. I do not believe your HPI is still 50, but knowing you I am sure you won’t go to our CMO and be retested.”

He knew me better than I knew myself, because deep down I was afraid of what I would release if I tried, so the longer I could keep whatever it was suppressed the better.

Narth returned his attention to Mao and added to his explanation saying. “The Red Dragon, however, has no intentions to share it with us or anyone. He needs us and the others to get there and that is when our usefulness to him ends. This comes from Mehedi’s deductions by the way and not Psionic probing, but I agree.”

Seeing my friends eat I got hungry after all and reaching for a bread bun said. “I was certain he would think that way, just using my gut instinct.”

Har-Hi took another bite and his cleaning efforts were made obsolete as another dollop of mayo dropped on his harness. “Looks like we have to follow him half across the galaxy after all.”

The Tavern was located at the outskirts of a big, busy metropole of a star faring society on the surface of that cold and dry planet. The atmosphere was breathable but so dry it felt as if we were breathing invisible sandpaper. The Karthanian ship dealer had gifted us with two Karthanian shuttle craft similar to a D 20. We had used one to get down to the planet.

Har-Hi and I had left the ship to attend the meeting the Red Dragon had invited us to. The building consisted of only one big guest room with a vaulted ceiling and several sturdy wooden tables and benches. A bar with stacked barrels on one side gave the whole place a very rustic and primitive atmosphere, and reminded me of a Nilfeheim tavern.

In the center of the guest room was a big round table with fourteen chairs, ten were occupied.

I recognized the Red Dragon, Meateater and the Puup, Captain Brathering. The other Oghar at the table was Crimson Curse, we had met on Brhama Port.The brown and black striped Togar was most likely Carrhrh I had heard of him in a briefing but the rest were strangers to me.

Red Dragon got up and pointed me to an empty chair. “Everyone this is Captain Black Velvet. To me he said: “This table is for Captains only; your First Mate can of course sit with the others of our crews if he wants.”

A human man with a rugged face, lantern jaw, long black hair and a scar from over his left eye to his right cheek got up, pulled the chair out for me and bowed. His left eye looked metallic underneath his scared eyelids. “What a pleasure to finally meet you Captain Velvet. I have heard so much about you. I am Alsun Sandovahl, Captain of the Killerbeast.”

I sat down and he helped me pull the chair in and then he sat down. Har-Hi placed himself right behind me with crossed arms and his best sinister stoic facial expression. If he was not supposed to stand there, no one dared to tell him.

The man who introduced himself as Sandovahl took his seat to my left and the big Oghr, Crimson Curse sat to my right.

He actually gave me a brief nod of recognition. Just as I had taken my seat a yellow throat Shiss came in and took a seat.

An Oghar waiter came around and took orders. I declined and looked around. I noticed two women other than me were part of this meeting. One of them was human, and she had her hair dyed in a bright purple color and tied in a ponytail. A five pointed, star shaped golden colored face painting or a tattoo covering her left temple and much of her cheek.

She wore a white ruffled blouse that covered an almost flat chest.

The other woman was completely bald and had the paper white skin of a Kermac, but her sharp pointed teeth and the fine scaled texture of her skin pointed towards Shiss heritage. She appeared to embrace her lizard origin and wore a tight suit made of the scaled skin of a snake or lizard that shimmered in rainbow colors when she moved, but appeared black if she remained still.

Red Dragon banged the butt of his blaster on the table surface and said. “I wished I could have convinced a few more to take part in this extraordinary opportunity. Several who wanted, fell by the wayside, but you rough as they come, experienced freelancers, cut throats and renders should be more than enough to face down any danger or opposition we might encounter on our journey.

Since not all of you know everyone in this circle let me begin with introducing everyone, beginning with Captain Meateater to my right. He is going to be the second in command of our Convoy. While I hope we all will be able to trust each other and at the end of this journey, it is he I trust the most. He is an Oghar and commands the Intruder. His ship will be completely refurbished and refitted. The Togar next to him is Captain Carrhrh and his ship is the Celestial Nightmare.

Few of you will know of the Puup, but Captain Brathering has made himself quite a reputation and his ship the Uhui might just be the most powerful ship after the Red Dragon as it is the only purpose built warship and a genuine Kermac T cruiser.Then there is another Oghar, the famous Crimson Curse commanding the Bloody Mary, he has been longer in this business than any of us and I am glad he came around and decided to take part in this endeavour after all.

I doubt many of you have ever seen her in person, but the leather clad mysterious masked lady is Captain Black Velvet, her reputation and legend is well earned I assure you, I have seen her in action. She commands a Karthanian Armed Freighter with a treasure chamber that puts the Crown Treasury of the Togar Queen to shame.

The maimed gentleman with the piercing cyber eye is Captain Sandovahl, Union Academy graduate; former Union Officer and I can attest there is no better training in the Universe. He commands the Killerbeast a ship so heavily armed and armored one wonders how he even finds room for his crew.

That shaggy Jooltar answers to the name Basoro, there isn’t anything in this universe he hasn’t stolen or tried to steal. His ship, the Hontu, is a big darn freighter with weapons bolted on it and, if you need it, chances are he has it somewhere in his freight bays.”

Dragon paused to take a swig from his mug of beer and it looked eerie as his skull mask opened the jaws. After that he went on. “Having a Togar sit right next to a Jooltar is usually not a good idea and a recipe for disaster but Captain Lemakr is as cold blooded as a cat could be and kills only for one reason, if there is profit to be made, but then he considers half a credit profit. His ship is the well-kept Kalita.”

Next comes Captain Lia Bassett, sister and member of the Bassett clan that runs Brhama Port, she is the oddball of the family so she says, but her ship Jammer is excellently equipped, had been a Dai raider and has shields that allows her to go places others can’t.

Our third female Captain is another enigma. She calls herself Nocturna and her ship, the Executor, was manufactured to her specs at SII shipyards and features real Ultronit armor and the best civilian shields SII sells. Why she has chosen this profession, she does not tell.”

Again he took a draught of his mug and pointed to the lizard. “The Shiss next to her is Captain Rkkkz, he is a Yellow Throat Shiss, trained to be a Raider from when he was born. His ship the Shadoom has the latest in Shiss technology. He decided to go into business on his own.”

Red Dragon pointed at himself. “Finally there is me. I am the Red Dragon and my Ship, the Red Dragon, could pulverize all your ships together as it is filled with Union and functional Celtest technology.”

He sat down and gave everyone a moment to look around or drink and then he said. “We are planning to embark on a long journey into regions of this galaxy that not few of us has ever been. You all are experienced Captains and you know, as empty and desolate space can be, there are often dangerous and unexpected obstacles. There is also the challenge of fuel, supplies and engine maintenance.

Therefore we will buy two portable refineries and I expect anyone who will need fuel to chip in on the purchase price as those things are not cheap.

If you skip on that, you won’t get any of the fuel later or have to pay whatever we charge.”

Crimson Curse declined and said. “I’ve had my own refinery for years, don’t need someone else’s.”

“As the turn came to me I said. “I am also fuel independent and have my own refinery.”

Red Dragon shook his head. “What a prize your ship would have made, I wonder what other surprises you have hidden in that rust bucket.”

“Oh this, that and the other thing, and I am taking care of the rust right now.”

After he had collected the pledges for the refineries he said. “Everyone must take at least four sets of replacement parts for their engines along and hire good engineers. Once we are there we will of course return with Celtest ships but most engines need maintenance and replacement coils after 5000 light years.”

He looked at his PDD. “Make sure you take enough food and supplies along to feed your crews. So get rid of any junk you’ve got in your freight bays and stock up on essentials. Captain Basoro will take extra food and supplies but I bet he won’t be cheap so don’t say I haven’t warned you.”

Sandovahl leaned over and said. “I guess this was the official part, now comes the social one. You wouldn’t show me what you got under that mask right?”

“I just might, but then I would have to kill you.”

Crimson on the other side of me said. “You better listen to her. I’ve seen her kill Captain Bloom and she did it in a time that takes you to blink your human eyes maybe twice.”

The Dragon finished his beer and said. “Now is the time for you to tell me if you are committed and coming along or if you want to back out. If you back out or abandon us after you agreed to come along, I will personally hunt you down and destroy you.”

Crimson Curse raised his hand. “Now before I commit myself to something I am not completely convinced about. I want to hear your plan, your intentions and do you know where to go?”

The canine looking Jooltar named Basoro made a howling sound as he spoke. “It is true we heard a lot of what we are to do and to comply with all that will cost us a great deal of money. I have seen your suit, but it was not invincible as you said it would be and I know you have shields as good as a Union Battleship. You speak of invincible Celtest technology and yet a bunch of Wolfcrafts made you flee and ripped your ships stern in the process.”

Carrhrh the Togar hissed and growled at the Jooltar. “It disgusts me to admit it, but the mangy Jooltar has a point.”

Before the Red Dragon could respond, the Puup that really looked like a large teddy bear, with a maw full of inch long snake like fangs, said, “We are not talking about some bits and pieces of Celtest technology, but entire ships. Do you know the secret of Translocator cannons stems from Celtest technology? Do you know that the famous Devastator is a Celtest ship? Can you even imagine what the Kermac would pay us for a single ship like that, or the secret of Translocator cannons? It will be more Polonium, more riches than we all together could earn in ten lifetimes.”

The Red Dragon said. “I am not forcing anyone to come along. I know where to go and I know the depot is real. The path is long and not without risks, but no riskier than what we all do every day anyway. I will go there even if I have to go alone, but mark my word. I won’t know you when I come back.”

Meateater fumbled with his gold covered tusks and said with a rough mumbling sound. “That cursed wench, Black Velvet, had us over a barrel just recently and demanded millions of Polos. She settled for a single Celtest artifact as payment. I have seen her treasury and I know she is a sly business woman dealing with slaves and planets. Go tell them Velvet, tell them what Celtest artifacts, even bits and pieces are worth.”

I did not need to say anything. Carrhrh the Togar sat down and grunted. “I see it too; you are right, even a single working Celtest artifact would pay for the trip with enough profit to buy a new ship.”

The human deserter and traitor next to me held up a PDD. “We are in range for public GalNet and there is even an Xchange right here as the Golden enclave is now Union.”

He wiped his finger over the display and a three dimensional Holo appeared of a busted helmet like object.

He said. “This is a non-working broken helmet of Celtest origin. It was offered four weeks ago at the Xchange and sold for 75 Million Credits. Nine months ago, a set of confirmed Celtest eating utensils, was sold for 4 million credits.”

He said alien artifacts of long gone civilizations are the hottest commodity on the Xchange and if you can say it is Pree, UNI or Celtest, it doesn’t matter if it is a scrap piece of metal, it sells for enormous amounts of money.”

This demonstration was most likely the deciding factor and everyone agreed to come along. The human with the cyber eye said: “I am a somewhat strapped on funds. I just refurbished my ship and paid you a lot of money to go in on those refineries. I want to come along but I can’t afford four complete sets of engine parts and I actually should take at least eight. How long do we have till we leave?”

Red Dragon said.”Meateater’s Intruder is in dock and it will take at least 4 weeks to get her ready. I know there is lot of preparation to do, and some of us might have to do a little work to gather the necessary funds. While there is no set date we have to leave I would like to be ready with everything and get on our way the latest in sixty days

We will then meet on the third planet in this system and go on our quest.Anyone missing is going to be left behind. Perhaps one of us could extend you a loan or something; there are those among us quite wealthy.”

He did look into my direction as he said that.

The man shook his head. “That would be the last option, I don’t like owing anyone, but all that talk about artifacts gave me an idea. Isn’t there a planet full of ruins just an orbit closer to this sun and as I understand, you control it. Maybe my crew and I could go digging there for something to sell?”

Dragon raised his arms.

“Yes and it was the headquarters of my Sinister Alliance. The civilization that was there once killed themselves with a nuclear war. It not very old and whatever you might find is Tech Level five at best. I doubt you’ll find anything valuable, but you are of course welcome to try. It is there where we meet the next time anyway.”

The Red Dragon leaned forward. “Just keep all this for yourselves. I don’t want anyone getting ideas and following us, a Celtest depot would be a nice find for the Kermac or the Karthanians too.”

Crimson asked. “What happened to the Sinister Alliance? Wasn’t that your big project?”

“What is left of that Alliance is right here at this table. I am tired of peddling, this opportunity fell into my lap and this is the only project I am interested in. I intend to get me a Devastator like ship and fly it right to the Assembly and pulverize the whole lot. Let us all meet again in one in sixty days and then we get under way.”

The meeting had ended. I and several others immediately got up, while Meateater and a few others ordered drinks and from the looks of it intended to use the opportunity party and drink.

I was just leaving, Har-Hi and I had already gone through the door. The air was bitter cold and the lights of the big city and the huge space port painted golden halo into the sky above.

Before us to the south was a vast desert valley with a low mountain range in the distance. Two big bright moons illuminated endless rows of space ship hulks in various states of disassembly. It was one of the many junk yard fields Sobody had told us about. The tavern was one of several free standing buildings along a paved road that led to the city on one end and into the desert and perhaps to another town or city on the other.

Red Dragon and the woman Pirate called Nocturna had followed us and he stopped me saying “Black Velvet, wait a moment.”

I turned and he said. “I know we started on the wrong foot and I wanted to say that I am very glad you decided to come along after all. I think you and I are not so different. We both know what we want and go after it regardless of the challenges that try to prevent us from reaching that goal.”

I said. “Knowing you, you didn’t just come out here to compliment me.”

He laughed and said, “You are one suspicious wench and I do like that, but I actually wanted to ask if you would stay awhile. We all need to get to know each other a little better. I am aware we’re never going to be a close knit group and we all have our secrets, but I think we need to establish some base of understanding among us.”

Har-Hi interrupted and pulled his weapon pointing to a shadow and said. “Someone did listen in on this meeting of yours.”

Now I saw it too, two shadowy shapes had emerged from a basement door of the tavern and were running in a hunkered fashion across the road and towards the junkyard.

Red Dragon cursed pulled his blaster and flanked over the hand rail that was part of the five step stairs leading to the tavern’s main entrance.

Why I flung myself over the same railing, pulling my own weapon, I could not really say. I did hear Har-Hi making a sighing, groaning sound as he followed as well. The Dragon said while we crossed the road.

“The Tavern is run by a former pirate and is a sanctuary for the likes of us, but it looks like he sold out after all. Those could be Kermac, Togar, Kartanian heck these could be anyone’s spies. I want to know who listened in.”

What looked like even ground from the Tavern was actually some sort of tall very dry and coarse grass that reached all the way to my chest. The actual Junkyard itself, dark ragged shadowy shapes still a good two thousand meters away.

I said to the Dragon. “Running openly after two unidentified individuals isn’t such a good idea, by that bright moon light we present good targets. I stopped and went to my knees to examine the ground and the tracks, just then a bright blaster shot cracked over where I had just been standing.

Har-Hi the Dragon and the silent Pirate woman ducked as well. Har-Hi grunted.” I didn’t see anyone shooting at us, tell me Captain what exactly we are doing here anyway?”

That was a good question and cursing my own impulsive behavior I said. “I don’t like to be spied on either and I like to know all the players involved in this game as much as possible.”

The Dragon hissed. “That sums it up; I really want to know who they are.”

I was always able to see well in low light conditions and examined the ground. “There are two of them; from the shape of the tracks at last one could be Karthanian. The other might be Togar, a big one at that, most likely male.”

The woman who had not said a word until now let out a silent whistle. “That is impressive, they might already have reached the junkyard and it will be impossible to find anyone in that maze.”

The Dragon said. “Yes, I am more and more impressed with you, Velvet. You are a woman of many talents.”

I hushed at him and said: “And you are making more noise than a gaggle of preschoolers at lunch break.”

I closed my eyes and extended that new sense I was developing and the tall grass like carpet surrounding us, disappeared and I could feel armed beings all around us, twelve of them, my mind still was going to get used to this electro sonar sense and I could not distinguish details but I could feel their heartbeats and make out their approximate shapes.

I whispered. “There are twelve of them, armed with blaster weapons waiting for us to do something.”

The Dragon said. “I am going to call my crew for reinforcement, even though I am nearly invincible even in this thanks to you damaged suit. I want to catch them alive.”

Then his voice suddenly fell silent and I turned to see, an all-black dressed humanoid shape was standing right behind him pressing a weapon at the Dragon’s temple and it whispered. “I don’t know if your fancy suit is capable of preventing me from making a new hole in your skull, pirate.”

Three more all black shapes shimmered into view aiming alien looking energy weapons at us.

SHORGOZ

One of the armed men brushed the faceplate of his tight fitting helmet up and revealed, to my great dismay, the light blue face of a Thauran and he said: “You are all under arrest for conspiracy and for aiding and hiding known terrorists.”

He motioned us to get up and now we could see two modern armed flyers hovering back near the tavern. We could also see more heavily armed troops as they were herding out the other pirates.

The Red Dragon complained. “What is this all about? None of us have broken any local laws. We are nothing but Freelancing merchants.”

The Thauran laughed. “I know what you are. You are the worst pirate scum. We followed two leaders of the local rebels to that tavern and lord and behold what do we find there? A real convention of the most wanted space raiders this side of Sagittarius.”

The one who was still pressing his weapon against the Red Dragon’s temple said.” What is your business with the Rebels? Trying to sell weapons perhaps?”

The Red Dragon did not move as he still had an alien and dangerous looking weapon aimed at him. “I am a personal friend of the First Hull Builder and closely associated with the Hull Maker Guild. You must stand down and let us conduct whatever business we decide to engage in. I doubt the local magistrate wants Karthanian difficulties.”

Har-Hi gave me a barely noticeable nod and I knew he was ready to take the two on his side.

I said. “I am not in a very good mood, Thauran, and despite a recent promise of mine, you being Thauran isn’t helping. So get your goons of our backs and go back from wherever you came from. While you still can.

He looked me up and down. “I think you’re the infamous Black Velvet, are you not? Even if you have nothing to do with the rebels, the bounty I get for...” Just then a small official looking airspeeder arrived, with two humanoid shaped beings sitting in the open passenger compartment.

I decided to wait with any action and gave Har-Hi a wink. He nodded only noticeably by me, that he understood. Har-Hi was not telepathically linked with me as was Narth, but we had become a very good team and able to read each other very well. I was almost certain the newcomers had more answers and I wanted to hear what they had to say.

The speeder landed only a few meters away and the two beings riding it stepped out and joined this strange meeting of ours in the middle of the night on a field of dry, chest high Ithe Grass. Both of them wore military style uniforms consisting of long, leather like grey coats, adorned with gold and brass insignia. During my briefing with Sobody, I knew these were Drak, the local authority.

Both of them were about the same size and I estimated them to be not more than maybe 170 centimeters tall. More or less humanoid proportioned, bipedal, two arms with two stubby fingers and an opposing thumb on each hand. Their heads had the shape of a Terran pear fruit with the thinner part on top. The locals most striking feature was a set of stalk eyes, one laterally protruding from each side of their head. The lower part of the head featured a wide, toothless maw.

The one to the left had only one single but very large golden medal on his chest while the other featured a jingling array of at least two dozen smaller ones.

It was the one with the large single medal who spoke first saying, “I do not see the Ninety or the Galvanizer, instead I am seeing Off-World business people. Why are you harassing them? Have you not promised me the heads of these Instigators tonight? Where are they?”

The Thauran lost some of his arrogance at this harangue address of what must have been high ranking members of the government or military. He made a sweeping gesture towards us. “We followed the rebellion leaders to that tavern and found a regular ‘who’s who’ of the worst space scum. These are the most wanted pirates in the known Galaxy, your Excellency. Sending them in chains to Union Authorities would not only immensely improve relations but fill your state coffers with lots of Union credits, enough to pay our fees and keep a tidy profit”

The Drak lowered his voice and said. “We have retained your services as you claimed you and your Mercenary outfit could solve the rebel and terrorist problem for us. What you present us with are not Terrorists and, unlike the Rebels, we do not care for Union relations, we are independent friends of the Karthanian Conglomerate. Release these business people at once and show us the captured or dead rebel leaders you claimed you followed. This is why I personally came out here tonight.”

The mercenaries slowly lowered their weapons and the Red Dragon said. “This is not enough, your Excellency, you can be certain the Hull Maker Guild will hear of this.”

The Drak leader said. “Is it not enough that I myself come out here in the middle of the night. I might just act on the mercenaries recommendation and the Hull builders guild will never heart...”

Something very fast was streaking through the cold night air and a thing that looked like a grey jelly fish with bat wings smacked into the face of the Thauran, making a wet sound.

Someone yelled. “Megdohrs! They are using Megdohrs, run!”

More of these flying creatures attacked the same way, hissing fast through the air and attaching themselves to the heads of their victims. Two more mercenaries and the the pirate woman went down.

Har-Hi saved my life as he, with incredible speed and skill, drew his swords and cut one of these creatures in half just before it reached me.

One of the things collided with the second metal jingling Drak, the one who had not spoken so far, and the stalk eyed alien dropped to the ground; the flying animal covering much of his head making sucking noises. Only now I drew my blaster, cursing my own slowness and burned several of the flying creatures to atomic ashes.

Before I could really find my bearings and make a decision not based on pure reflexes, I saw black plum sized bugs crawling all over the ground and now I noticed least a dozen of them already crawling up my legs. The Seth gloves I wore proved to be the best defense against those crawling pests because as soon as I touched the insects they crumbled to dust. Everyone was stomping and trying to brush off the bugs. One of the mercenaries managed to activate his force field, but it was too late as several bugs were already inside his field and one of them drew blood as it sunk its finger-long pincers into the flesh of the mercenary’s face.

I started to brush off the bugs that crawled on Har-Hi, but there were so many.

Har-Hi yelped in pain as he pulled one of the insects from his face, ripping a sizable piece of skin with it.

I too could feel their thin legs all over my back. I could not risk using the Seth gloves on Har-Hi higher up or on myself. I still didn’t know exactly how the gloves killed and the black mist they emitted was not controllable and would certainly kill him or me if it made contact with our skin. My mind was racing while I kept brushing more bugs off me.

A voice in the distance yelled with magnified volume, “Freedom for Ithe and death to the Oppressors and lackeys of the Kartanians!”

The voice came from somewhere outside this mad circle hidden in the tall grass.

As I looked around I saw someone’s head just above the tall grass against the darker back ground and I was certain this being was the actual source of the attack. I took a whole second to aim, disregarding the crawling sensation of dozens of bugs all over me and fired.

The black bugs lost their determined aggressive behavior at the same moment. Whoever I shot had somehow controlled these insects. My blaster shot had also started a a fast spreading fire, thankfully moving away from us. I heard and saw beings screaming and consumed by the roaring fire.

Only Har-Hi, one mercenaries, the Red Dragon and one of the Drak remained alive.

Har-Hi was bleeding from dozens of small wounds in his face as he pulled the last bug from his neck. I noticed the thin leather of my suit was shredded in many places, revealing the fine Ultronit mesh underneath. The bugs were no longer crawling with determination to attack; they had quite clearly lost whatever controlled them before and now it was easy to use the blasters to burn a wide section around us. It all had only lasted perhaps two or three minutes at the most but I had to admit the sudden attack had been overwhelming and confusing. I took a deep breath.

The remaining Drak, the one with the big medal, said, “That was the work of the Instigators. They use all kinds of modified and genetic altered alien horrors, like the Megdohrs, or that new crawling bug horror, most likely found in the holds of ancient wrecks and scrap ships.”

He took a breath and collected his bearings.”You have saved my life and perhaps burned the leaders of this terror group themselves. I am the High magistrate. Defender of order and giver of law.” He turned without waiting for any response from me and said to the remaining mercenary. “You and your outfit however proved more of a nuisance than help.” He raised his weapon and shot the man point blank in the face.”

I said to Har-Hi. “Let us go back to the shuttle so we can get you to sickbay.” Har-Hi did not have to be told twice, he started walking immediately.

The Red Dragon’s outer garments were as shredded as mine. It was apparent that the bugs were able to penetrate his suit where Shea had cut it, the tape he had used to make repairs was torn and he was bleeding from many small wounds, where the bugs had shredded his mask exposing his blue skin as well.

He was catching up to us as we stepped back on the street before the tavern and he said. “I am going back inside the Tavern to check on the others. I’ll call you tomorrow and give you an update.”

As I watched him go inside while we walked towards our shuttle parked nearby, I had to admit I was too uninformed and ignorant about the local conditions and I scolded myself for not doing more research before coming here. I came here thinking Itheamh was a solid and stable society, albeit oppressed and basically an outpost of the Karthanian.

From what Har-Hi and I experienced it was anything but stable and there was much going on. I promised myself never to set foot on a planet again before preparing myself with the necessary knowledge.

Before we could reach our shuttle, we were intercepted by two Ithe soldiers or policemen who stepped in our way and one of them said.

“The High Magistrate wishes that you remain for a few moments longer to witness what happens to those who aide and support terrorists.” They were very polite, but their stance and the way they held their weapons made it clear that this was more than a request.

I was more than just annoyed and on the verge of wrapping those blasters around the short necks of these potato faced natives and telling them just how much I appreciated the local conditions, but I tempered myself and my own impulsive behavior, knowing full well that this was the real reason we were still here and in this situation in the first place.

Har-Hi and I watched as heavy armored troop transporters rolled in on the road coming from the nearby city; unloading several platoons of armed soldiers. Hovering fliers bathed the area with glaring search and flood lights. The local troops broke into nearby houses and dragged civilians out into the street at gunpoint.

The Drak leader with the big medal appeared, now standing on a hover platform addressed the gaggle of frightened and dazed looking civilians, most of them in their sleep wear, with a stern and accusatory tone through a volume amplifier.

He said, looking into a hovering camera bot before him. “Citizens of Itheamh, you all know about the terrible crimes committed by Instigators and you know how many innocent workers died in their cowardly attacks.”

He made an artful pause and then leaned forward saying. “Harboring, aiding and hiding terrorists is as much a crime as joining them.” He made a gesture towards a small group of Ithe locals. I noticed the Tavern owner among them and the High Magistrate said. “Thanks to the quick calls of outstanding citizens and the help of our brave security soldiers we were almost successful in capturing some of the most wanted terrorists. I, your chosen leader, am out here in the middle of the night to fight for your safety and it was during my tireless pursuit of peace and security when an attempt on my life was made.”

He raised his arms. “Thanks to my heroic struggle and the interference of Off-World visitors the foul attempt was thwarted. Several terrorist could be neutralized.” Now he pointed his finger towards the small crowd of locals that had been driven out of their homes. “I was chosen to lead our civilization and to guard it against all external and internal threats. Therefore I must make hard decisions to defend our way of life and make sure our Karthanian friends who are so close, know they can depend on us.”

He raised his arms in a theatrical fashion and his voice became thundering loud as he looked directly into the Cam bots. “These criminals you see before me have been found guilty of collaborating with the terrorists. What will transpire next must serve as a warning to all those who think about collaborating with the terrorists.”

I knew something bad would happen, and I prepared myself. My stomach cramped to tight knot as I saw the soldiers lining up women and children and after receiving a hand sign of the Magistrate, opening fire, shooting the helpless with their blasters. I saw women trying to shelter their children from the crackling energy blasts; heard the pleas for mercy and could smell the burned flesh as the smoke wafted into our direction moments later.

“I had prepared myself for something bad about to happen, but I never thought they would actually shoot, execute helpless mothers and children.

I felt dirty and as guilty as that murdering coward on that hover platform. I was there and I did do nothing to prevent the slaughter. I expected them to be arrested or punished in some form, but not this. Evil had taken on an entire new meaning for me and it had a face.

Numb with a new feeling of anger I watched on. The Drak soldiers had spared the lives of the men and despite their inhuman faces their faces were alien to me. I felt and saw incomprehensible agony as they had to witness their wives and children executed in such open brutality. No it was not a new feeling. I recognized that pain and helpless rage. I had felt it the night my father killed my mother.

The men were shackled and herded to a waiting transport. I was certain I knew where these men would go. To the Smelter Moons.

The Magistrate was still spewing propaganda from his hover platform and into the optics of the hover cams.

The old Eric Olafson would not have let this happen, he would have pulled that magistrate off his platform and tried to prevent the slaughter or avenged the deed by making them all pay. It was very likely the old Eric would have eventually been shot, maybe herded along with the other men to the smelter moons and most certainly compromised his mission. Now I stood there doing nothing, I wondered if my old ways weren’t preferable. They certainly would not make me feel as guilty as I felt now.

As I was thinking earlier, Har-Hi had no telepathic abilities but he was very intuitive as he said, “You haven’t changed all that much, we are here because a certain friend of mine had to run after some shadowy figures.”

“How could you know what I was thinking? I wear a mask and you can’t read minds.” I said to him.

“I can read your body language and I think I know you pretty well Captain.”

“You most certainly do.”

The soldiers that blocked our way to our shuttle stepped aside and one of them said. “It is nice to see Ithe justice done, is it not? That will teach those criminals a lesson.”

It was only because Har-Hi actually held me by the shoulder and used his Dai strength to pull me back, that I didn’t kill that soldier right there and then. The soldier took several steps back.

Even though I was wearing a mask, the soldier must have seen my feelings in my eyes and he backed up even further saying, “We don’t like off-worlders making trouble or collaborating with the terrorists, this was meant as a warning.”

Har-Hi said with intense urgenc., “Captain we need to go. This has nothing to do with us and is a local affair. You are needed on the ship right now.”

“Yes, you are right of course. I had seen all I want to see of this miserable place.”

While I followed Har-Hi to our shuttle, I wondered if there was a nice, normal planet outside of the Union at all. So far every place I visited outside Union space so far turned out to be variations of Hell and severely flawed.

Har-Hi pulled me back to reality as he opened the air lock to the shuttle and whispered to me. “There is someone or something hiding underneath the shuttle. It moved as we approached.”

All I could think off was that someone was attaching something nasty to the shuttle hull. I dropped to my knees drawing my weapon at the same time ready to make this the last moment in that someone’s life.

There between the landing gear of the shuttle huddled an Ithe female with two children. Even though they had non-human faces, I could clearly sense their fear.

At the same time I heard the crunching sound of soldier’s boots coming closer. There was no way I would let them be captured and shot, even if it meant to risk the mission, my career or my life. I got up and turned toward the soldiers approaching with their weapons ready and I was ready to kill them when Har-Hi said to me: “Did you find that Polo coin you dropped?”

I relaxed my stance and acted as if I had something in my hand and said. “Yes, and it was a Full weight too.”

This again showed just how well Har-Hi knew me.

The Soldiers however lowered their guns and one of them said. “A Full weight is a Full weight and worth picking up.” His partner nodded and they went on walking past us.

I said to Har-Hi quietly. “There is a mother and her kids hiding.”

Har-Hi pushed the contact to lower the short access ramp and said. “How do we get them in the shuttle without anyone seeing them? There are still lots of soldiers around.”

Looking around I said, “We need some sort of diversion.”

He smiled. “I think I can manage that.” My Dai friend raised his arm and a short barrel appeared from his wrist gauntlets. A sharp plopping sound was heard and a heartbeat later the Arti-Grav of a security skimmer about 200 meters away exploded, sending the skimmer crashing to the ground. The soldiers and pretty much everyone else was looking or running towards the burning wreck. I dropped to my knees and said. “Woman, take your kids and enter the shuttle as fast as you can. Don’t hesitate and don’t ask questions if you want your kids to live.”

I don’t know if she understood what I said, so I yelled again and pointed by gun at her.This time she reacted and crawled from underneath the shuttle. After a second of hesitation, she rushed inside, dragging her kids along.

Har-Hi and I were right behind her, I yelled. “Get us out of here as fast as you can, Har-Hi.”

My friend started the engines and flooded the Arti-Grav cushion before he was even completely seated.

One of the soldiers had turned and I was certain he had seen the woman getting in as he raised his weapon. I fired and my blast nailed him right between the eyes.

Seconds later Har-Hi pulled the shuttle into a steep climb into the sky. I was holding onto the frame of the still open air lock, having my blaster in the other hand ready to fire at anyone else trying to prevent us from leaving.

The climb was sudden and steep, the woman must have lost hold of one of her kids as it tumbled past me. I already saw it falling to his death. I was unable to prevent the fall, or reach it fast enough. The kid slipped across the edge of the ramp, less than a centimetre from my outstretched hand. I could not let this happen, not another child, then suddenly I could feel the small body of the child as if I was holding it, yet I was not touching the child. Whatever it was, the child stopped moving right past the very edge of the boarding ramp.

I dropped the gun and activated the closing mechanism. The ramp came up and I lurched forward to grab the child. Holding the little being with one hand, I held on to the edge of the ramp with all the strength I could muster, both the acceleration and the gale force wind tried to brush me off.

Only after the ramp finally sealed with the hull of the shuttle did I let go. I leaned against the ramp and took a deep breath. The woman was on her knees, holding her second child with one arm. Her alien eyes were wide open her other arm still stretched out for the other child.

I got up and handed her the sobbing infant. She embraced it and buried her face in the bundle crying and sobbing hysterically. All I could think of doing was putting my hand on her shoulders.

Chapter 26 »