I hope that you will find me approachable. We are going to be a team and I hope that this becomes more than just a title. I hope that later I will get an opportunity to meet you all personally but for now, shall we go and see what this ship can do? Mr Sanderson you have a “go” take us out of here. Log in co-ordinates for Milea Ventura and inform the fleet, when they are ready we’ll make the jump to the corridor. Please take it as read that when I give an order to move, unless I say otherwise I mean for you to contact the rest of the fleet first and move us as a unit.”

  Mr Sanderson, a short blonde haired youth looked up momentarily. “Aye Captain, I mean Prince.” He looked at Anathorn pleadingly.

  Anathorn smiled. “Well, Captain will do.”

  Sanderson smiled. “Thank you Captain.” He then keyed in various codes on screen and data started flooding back from each of the other ships in the fleet. The view from the huge windows shifted from the black and pinpoint lights of stars to the swirling colours of the Eion Particles in the corridor.

  There were welcoming faces all around him, and slightly relieved ones that he didn’t give a long speech. It had said in the manual that the length of speech was the choice of the speaker. It had also given various hints on content. He’d decided to keep it short and speak to people later. He went to his chair and sat down. There were switches and screens in front of him. He looked at them and tried to recall what they were but it had all become a bit of a blur and then Aliniel had distracted him.

  They jumped out of the corridor over a small group of planets on the rim of the Ionis Galaxy. As soon as they arrived six fighter class battle cruisers moved into orbit with them and sent a challenging hail. Anathorn gave the order to power weapons and raised the shields. He gave the order to fire just before the enemy fleet. They got at least one salvo in first, disabling the enemies’ main guns and ability to jump into the corridor.

  The ships in the fleet co-ordinated their firing and within minutes the enemy fleet was destroyed. The cruisers burnt with plumes of orange and red light, bright against the dark backdrop of space and its myriad of stars. Suddenly Anathorn felt very small faced with the black infinity of that panoramic view. The ship felt so large, it was almost the size of a planet, the rest of the ships under his command were not much smaller. Each had a full crew and supporting staff together with a force of ground troops and engineers. The gravity of the power he had been given to wield sunk in. The gravity of the situation did also. There had been many people on those ships and they were all now dead. That had been his command, his responsibility. Knowing that the Followers brainwashed many of their believers it was a difficult moment. Capture had not been an option, not with the firepower they had. Firepower that was now no longer in the hands of his enemies. Democracy and right of choice had to be restored, they were fighting for the freedom of speech and to be able to live out a life in the way someone chose. That was a fight worth taking up. He had to put aside the horrors of what he had just done and the lives that had been lost. He wouldn’t sleep well over it, but for now he could let himself and his crew enjoy a victory.

  Rennon was in his new laboratory. He had his boxes with him. They were beginning to show their age and the amount of times they had been rescued from near abandonment on evacuating an area was beginning to show. He took the contents out like old friends and found them homes on shelves and in cupboards. He marvelled at the inertial dampeners and gravity modifiers which he knew would keep glasses and tubes on shelves whatever angle the cupboard ended up at.

  Outside the internal window to his laboratory he could see his research crew. To him the laboratory area seemed vast. Within it thirty people were all busy and seemed to know what they were doing. He sat down and pulled out his laptop and connected it to the system. He pulled up their resumes and began going through them. He wanted to know who they were, a bit about them and most importantly what they could do. He was reading when there was a knock at his door.

  He got up and opened it. He was met by a fragile woman, dressed in a lab coat with light brown hair tied back in a ponytail. She smiled. “Sir, I have been instructed by Prince Anathorn to tell you that I am not a psychotic murdering she bitch. My name is Neris Stevens. I am reporting for duty as your assistant.” She looked a little bemused.

  Rennon laughed. “Don’t worry, it is a private joke. My last lab assistant was a Follower spy and managed to blow my lab up, steal the contents of my laptop and left me for dead.”

  Neris smiled sweetly. “Oh, I am sorry to hear that. If you check my resume you will see that I am totally unqualified for such extra-curricular activities. I have only trained in lab work so sadly I will have to forego the blowing up of the lab and trying to murder you duties. Can we settle for me bringing you tea or coffee occasionally? I find that much more suitable to my talents.”

  Rennon laughed. “Yes, I think that would be much more appropriate. Mine is white with no sugar.”

  Neris smiled. “Very good sir.”

  Rennon smiled back. “You can call me Rennon.” She left and he went back to unpacking his boxes. He couldn’t help smiling and he wasn’t quite sure why. His laptop had begun downloading specifications from the ship and he busied himself looking through them.

  Among his new documents was a message from Dr Samson. “Greetings from the Argo. We are all fine here and enjoying the delightful cooking and care that we get from Ma who is now the commander of this vessel. We were are a part of the post firestorm clean up mission like you and hopefully one day we’ll be in the same area and can meet up.”

  6

  Anathorn had just logged off from a communiqué with Maran. He rubbed his eyes and took a mouthful of strong black coffee, sighed and leant back in his high backed leather chair. He looked older. The strain was beginning to show on his face as was the lack of sleep. He looked down and realised he was still in the clothes from yesterday, he was yet to go to bed. Aliniel came in and stepped behind him and began to massage his shoulders. “You are very tense. Try to relax. You are doing a fantastic job. It has only been two weeks. Don’t expect to know everything immediately.”

  He smiled. “I’m fine, it’s a lot easier now.” She ran her finger down his spine.

  He laughed. “That does nothing for my concentration.” He turned and grabbed her arm and pulled her down to sit on his lap. She put her arms around him. “So, how do you like your new mate? Will I do?”

  She kissed him. “Despite not being in my bed last night you are doing just fine. Was that Maran?”

  Anathorn raised an eyebrow. “She’s doing well. She has settled in to heading the group that is uniting the tribes across the galaxies. She is having a little difficulty with the technology though and her spelling is driving me mad. She writes as things sound but she has a strong accent.”

  Aliniel smiled. “She was my mother’s tutor as you know. She has started training me.”

  Anathorn looked worried. “You didn’t mention you were training for the Order.”

  Aliniel kissed him. “Don’t worry. I’m training for the basic healing only. I’ve already made my choices haven’t I? There is no way I’m taking the path of celibacy. Not now.” She smiled. “My mother took it before she had known a man. I know what I’d be missing.”

  Anathorn smiled. “I’m glad to hear it.” Then Anathorn hesitated and looked thoughtful. “You mean?” He looked sheepish as he realised what he was saying to Aliniel about her mother.

  Aliniel laughed. “Yes, she was.”

  Anathorn blushed as a message flashed up on screen and Aliniel jumped off of his lap and stepped aside as she saw it was a visual connection. Anathorn accepted the message, opened the channel and Osiris’ face appeared in the communication box.

  He looked a little tired but he smiled as he saw Anathorn. “We have some trouble in the Destiny Sector. It seems there was a small research laboratory there which passed undetected on our first sweep. Intelligence has come our way that there is a Follower ship on its way to extract the scientists and retrieve their research. I thought your people might enjoy an opportunity to go off ship and get there first. I have transmitted co-ordinates. I trust all is to your liking there?”

  Anathorn smiled. “I am indeed very pleased with my new command. Thank you sir.”

  Osiris tilted his head slightly. “It was a pleasure. Until we speak again I wish you every success.” The communiqué was cut off as the co-ordinates arrived.

  Anathorn relayed the co-ordinates on to the Command Room with instructions for them to be keyed in but kept on hold. He then typed a message into his private pager which had the others on speed dial. “Report to Prince Anathorn. You have a mission.”

  Fifteen minutes later they sat around the large dark wood meeting table in the Operations Area of the ship. Anathorn had downloaded the information into private reading pads and had laid them out on the table so that everyone had a chance to look at them.

  Anathorn stood up. “As you will see it’s a small border planet, inhabited by miners mostly. It has already been swept by Osiris’ shock troops so the Follower garrison that was stationed there has been removed. There are suspicions that there are still Follower spies amongst the inhabitants but if there are they are obviously keeping a low profile. I’m still not sanctioning Intendi for off ship missions so you won’t be able to use his scanning skills. Anyone who you bring back will have to face him though, just in case.

  Initial scans of the planet didn’t reveal any hidden base so we can assume it is underground or shielded. I’ll supply you with hand held scanners that may be able to tell you more once you are on the planet’s surface. The magnetic field around that planet is strong so that may be interfering with our readings. Probably explains why we missed it before.

  The best guess is that it is in this area.” He pointed to a spot on a map which was projected onto the wall. “It is an uninhabited and relatively undisturbed area of gullies and mountains. I would suggest that you land around there and take a look around.

  Speed is of the essence but I don’t want you to go in as unprepared as we were last time we undertook an extraction.”

  Aliniel pouted. Anathorn caught the expression and its meaning. “I need you with me here. Although the likelihood of assassination is minimal I would rather not take the risk, or the risk of losing you.” He smiled at her, one of his velvet don’t you dare contradict me smiles and she sat down and looked away.

  Anathorn turned to Rennon. “I want you to go as well. You will know which machines to take and we may need you to break into any built in hard drive. I’m sending you in as a small force as that will stand the best chance of going in undetected. The population needs to be left alone to rebuild and to be reassured that we aren’t going to be dropping by and shooting the place up every five minutes. This is a covert extraction as I understand that Osiris is hoping to set an ambush for the Follower rescue party. We are to leave as much as possible undisturbed on the perimeter of the facility if and when we find it.”

  The hopper set down on the eastern side of the planet. The greens and browns of the foliage were a stark contrast to the violet sky, made that way by the dust particles from the ore which floated in the air due to the extraction method. The soil was violet, green grass springing from it and exotic flowers clung to tree trunks. As they walked between them they gave off a heady aroma.

  Kyla took point with Rennon just behind her with his head down looking at his scanner. Joniel was taking a look ahead and he had disappeared into the undergrowth when they first set off.

  Their route took them along a little used path and headed up into the mountains and through a narrow ravine. Rennon kept turning around, trying to get a reading. He was having little success. “This damn planet’s EMF is disturbing the equipment.”

  Kyla thought for a moment and held her hand out, palm down. “Will you let me try something? There is part of my training that helps me to locate objects or people. It is supposed to be used to find those lost and injured but I’m wondering if I can adapt it.”

  Rennon smiled. “I’m not going to say a word. Go for it.”

  Kyla took a deep breath and focused her mind and concentrated. She turned and checked direction after direction. “I think I’ve got something. I can feel something in that direction.” Her legs gave out from under her and she slumped to the ground. She was dizzy and staggering but pointed towards the mountains.

  Joniel had been watching them and changed his direction to match theirs. As the trees ran out he came back to join them. He fell in beside Kyla who had her hand out and was concentrating. Again and again she tripped over branches and rocks. He put his arm around her. “Is that alright, does that help?”

  She gave him a weak smile. There were dark circles under her eyes and she seemed to be having difficulty keeping awake. “That helps. I will see the way better if I can close my eyes, they are so heavy, can you help me? I haven’t done this for a long time and never out of the safety of the Training House.” Joniel supported and guided her so that she could walk with her eyes shut which made it easier for her to find the energy signature she was looking for.

  Kyla stopped. “I can feel something else.” Then she gave out a shocked whimper. “Trouble.”

  A shot rang out and Kyla reeled backwards, blood flowing from her shoulder. Joniel picked her up and lifted her behind a rock where there was enough cover to hide her. He slapped a trauma patch over the wound and pulled out his blaster. Rennon was already blowing holes in the hillside randomly as he had no idea where the shot had come from.

  Joniel disappeared into the undergrowth moved from rock to rock with lightning speed as he crossed the ravine and disappeared up the mountain side on the same side as the shot had come from. He managed to use the smallest amount of cover. Rennon saw him go and stopped firing. He made his way silently along the ravine and found himself a secure position behind the lone gunman who was safely hidden behind a thick stone wall, or so he thought. He shinned down the rock face and dropped silently behind the man, stepped forwards and put a knife to his throat. The gunman shifted his weight slightly and Joniel just caught a glimpse of him pushing a button on his belt. He didn’t hesitate, he leapt and rolled out of the fox hole as an explosive charge went off, blowing the gunman to pieces. He muttered under his breath. “I guess I won’t be interrogating that one.”

  He rolled and ran down the goat tracks that led down to the gulley they had been walking along. He passed Rennon. “I would suggest you scan here. That was a guard post.” He carried on to Kyla who was sitting with her back to the boulder. She looked pale and the patch was soaked in blood. Joniel put a hand on her other shoulder. “Would you mind giving up being shot, I can’t stand the worry.”

  She smiled as he grabbed the patch and tore it off. He then looked at the wound. “The bullet has lodged in there. Plenty of damage and that has got to hurt. So, shall we immobilise it or heal it and we can take the bullet out later?”

  Kyla smiled. “I’ll take the healing please. We don’t know what we are going to meet.”

  Joniel nodded. “Good call. He handed her his wrist.” She licked it first and anaesthetised the skin before biting and drawing off the blood that she needed to close the wound up.” She lay back and looked up at him. He licked a stray drop of blood off of her lips and smiled at her. “Come on then, let’s get on with the mission lazy bones.”

  Rennon held his hand out. “I’ve got it, three clicks south of here. Let’s move out but we’ll watch out for more of those outposts. I’ve got three on my scanner now that I have their signature. Joniel, if you would do the honours.”

  Joniel smiled and took a look at the scanner over Rennon’s shoulder. “I’ll clear them and come back, it’s easier that way.” He smiled and scampered up the goat track and along impossibly narrow ledges until he leapt over the ridge line. He ran along the ridge, keeping down and mostly out of sight using bushes and other small pieces of cover.

  The first guard post was further along the gulley. He lay down on the ridgeline above and pulled himself out over the edge slightly so that he had a clear view down onto the guard who was diligently watching the valley around him. Joniel took out a small elegant gun with a long barrel. He carefully aimed and fired. A long slim dart flew down and embedded in the guard’s shoulder. The guard grabbed at it in disbelief before he fell to his knees and then the floor. Joniel ran along the top of the ridge to the next one and did the same. As he fell Joniel was moving off to find the third. The third guard was on the other side of the valley. Joniel took out his silenced pistol and made himself comfortable behind a bush where he could watch what was going on. He waited and was soon rewarded when the guard stood up to take a look down the valley. Joniel’s shot was instantaneous and the man fell to the ground. A single clean shot had pierced his temple.

  Joniel ran along the top of the ridge, keeping low, back down to the group. “All clear.” He grinned.

  They moved down the gulley, Rennon holding the scanner out in front of him and following the proximity arrow that had now appeared. “Not far now. I’d say just about here.”

  There was nothing visible but with the scanner Rennon was able to find a portion of the wall and Joniel’s keen eyesight picked out the crack of the door. Altering the frequency on the scanner tripped the lock and the door swung open. From the moment they could see inside Kyla started firing catching three very surprised guards unawares. She blew two away before they could move, then she got the other one. They stepped quickly inside and shut the door behind them.

 

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