Part 27 (1/2)

”I need you to stabilize position relative to S'Hlu, and drop your s.h.i.+eld.”

Commodore and engineer exchanged glances. ”Why?” asked D'Trelna.

”We're going to try to teleport the raiding party off of S'Hlu.”

”Do it,” said D'Trelna to N'Trol.

It went well at first, with John and fourteen wounded troopers teleported to Implacable Implacable's hangar deck in three separate jumps.

”Take this,” he said, tossing the prototype to a startled DTrelna.

”What . . .”

”It's what we came for,” said John. He turned to Lan-Asal. ”Do you need me back there?''

”No-just another body to carry,” said the trans.m.u.te, and was gone.

”Well, that eases up on the return fire,” said L'Wrona. He stood with R'Gal in an open doorway, firing at the Combine forces as they tried to advance up either side of the corridor, weapons silent.

”Great defensive position, Captain,” said R'Gal, looking at the sign over the door: Armory 7-Atomics.

”Works for a time,” said L'Wrona, reloading. ”Until they send in more blades.” Behind them were the last of the raiders-five wounded and two not, sitting and lying in front of rows of deep-cooled white metal cylinders, all labeled with various ordnance nomenclatures.

”Here they come,” said R'Gal, pointing to a flight of blades as they whipped around a corner, light glinting off blue steel. He shook his head. ”Can't help you this time, L'Wrona-they're frequency s.h.i.+elded.”

”In,” said L'Wrona. The two stepped back, the captain palming shut the thick blast doors. They snicked together as the first blades reached the armory.

L'Wrona touched his communicator. ”J'Quel,” he said, watching thin white lines of energy slowly carve through the door, ”we need out now.”

”They're on their way,” came D'Trelna's voice.

”We're here,” said Guan-Sharick. L'Wrona and R'Gal turned-Lan-Asal and Guan-Sharick stood between them and the troopers.

”Get the rest out of here first.” said the captain, stepping to the small stack of gear they'd carried in. ”I have something to do.”

”Gone?” repeated T'Lan One, staring at the comm screen. ”Where and how?”

The woman shrugged wearily. Behind her the pickup showed the open door of Armory Seven, with security troops and blades flitting in and out. ”Unknown.”

”Guan-Sharick,” said T'Lan One. ”Teleported them out.”

”All of them? That fast?” said the other AI.

”There were five of them during the revolt,” said T'Lan One. ”Maybe more than one survived.

”All s.h.i.+ps to intercept Implacable,” Implacable,” he said. ”And advise Confederation FleetOps that we've just suffered a corsair attack-give them full battlespecs.” he said. ”And advise Confederation FleetOps that we've just suffered a corsair attack-give them full battlespecs.”

”But if they find Implacable Implacable first, we won't recover the device.” first, we won't recover the device.”

”It's more important to deprive them of it,” said T'Lan One.

Panicked shouting came from the comm screen. Startled, both AIs turned back to the comm screen. Their security forces were scattering, troops and blades fleeing down the corridors.

”What . . . ?” began T'Lan One.

The captain's face reappeared. ”Blastpak,” she said hoa.r.s.ely, glancing over her shoulder. ”No time to disarm-”

The screen winked off. The AIs looked at the surface monitors as flame washed over the pickups, leaving only screen fuzz and static in its wake.

”Can we take the aftershock?” asked T'Lan Two A. He'd hoped to remain functional for more than a day.

His question was answered as the ground wave shattered the ceiling and west wall, sending tons of earth exploding in on the command center.

19.

Implacables auditorium was packed-every off-duty crewman on the s.h.i.+p was in attendance, relieved by a handful of personnel, themselves watching via comm screen. auditorium was packed-every off-duty crewman on the s.h.i.+p was in attendance, relieved by a handful of personnel, themselves watching via comm screen.

The chatter died as D'Trelna stood, stepping to the podium.

”As you know, we're a hunted s.h.i.+p,” he began, eyes going from face to face. ”Fleet and Combine forces are searching for us with a vigor previously reserved for K'Tran.”

He leaned forward, big hands gripping the podium. ”We're the only ones who know the entire truth behind the Biofab War, the only ones who know beyond any doubt that the Fleet of the One is coming, and-the reason we're now corsair-listed-the only ones who know the truth behind Combine T'Lan. Colonel R'Gal”-he nodded to the AI, seated in the front row-”and his people have, for reasons of their own safety and effectiveness, declined to give the alarm about Combine T'Lan. And we've been very cleverly put into a position where any warning we'd give would be dismissed.

”We have a plan,” he continued. ”It's dangerous, wild, and likely to fail. But before I discuss it, I want you to know that we'll be happy to set down at the nearest port anyone who wants out. You signed on, most of you, to fight S'Cotar and save the Confederation, not to become ensnared in this ancient web of intrigue.

”If we slip you planetside, you'll be provided with new computer-confirmed ident.i.ties and doc.u.mentation, courtesy of Colonel R'Gal and Fleet Intelligence files. You're all skilled technicals-you'll have no trouble finding good jobs on any of a thousand worlds.” He paused and smiled. ”No hard feelings-you're the best of a good lot. So anyone who wants out, please fall out now and report to briefing room four, deck three.”

No one moved; then a rating stood-he was almost old enough to shave. ”Sir, aren't we still fighting for the Confederation?”

”We are,” nodded the commodore. ”It's just that the Confederation isn't aware of it.”

There was a ripple of nervous laughter.

”Sir, we're soldiers,” said the rating. ”We took an oath to fight for the Confederation. These machines may have fooled FleetOps and the Council, but it doesn't wipe our oath. You lead, we'll follow.”

As he sat back down, applause rippled through the auditorium, growing louder, until all were on their feet, clapping and cheering. Then someone struck up the Confederation anthem, the J'Rin. Voice after voice picked it up, sending all five verses ringing from the high ceiling.

D'Trelna waited until it died down. ”Thank you,” he said, a catch to his voice. Not trusting himself, he sat back down.

L'Wrona took the podium.

”We've been contacted by K'Tran. We're to rendezvous with Alpha Prime Alpha Prime-and her sister s.h.i.+ps.”

That caused a stir, the whispers running through the auditorium until L'Wrona cleared his throat. ”The previous offer stands,” he said. ”Anyone who wants off, say so. But say so now.” His eyes looked over the faces, many of them apprehensive. Kids, he thought, so many of them-more afraid to show fear than to die. Was I ever that young? he wondered.

”At the rendezvous,” continued the captain, ”we'll firm up strategy and proceed.”