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  The teams medic reached the casualties after being directed there by Hulo and quickly made his assessment. Keegan was severely wounded, but a spray of nano-bots onto the wound would keep him alive. Ryan was not so lucky.

  “She going to die.” Keegan heard the medic tell Hulo who had jogged over to assess the situation.

  “Options?” He asked, looking at Keegan who was still writhing on the cold snow in pain. He reached forward and pulled back Keegan’s clothes to inspect the work that the nano-bots were doing. Satisfied, he moved over Ryan who was breathing slowly, laying on her back, eyes open, looking up to the sky.

  “Critical damage to her heart. She’s lost too much blood. A healing bath would save her.” The medic trailed off.

  “Mind grab?” Hulo suggested.

  “Don’t know if it’ll work on a Terran.” The medic replied.

  “Do it!” Hulo ordered and got back to his feet and redirected his attention to the clump of trees where he had sent half his team to secure. “Status?”

  “Nothing. A few empty energy mags, and what’s left of a cloaking shield.” The report came back.

  “Collect what you can then set up a scatter shield on a ten-minute delay.” Hulo looked at Sergeant Wilson who was kneeling down next to Captain Joyce body. “You’ve got command of your element now.” Hulo said dryly. “We need to board the aircraft and exit the area. The scatter shield will disrupt any attempts to track us, but we need to move quickly.”

  The sergeant looked up at Hulo. “Yes, sir.” He rose to his feet and looked at the body for a moment, then moved off to the rest of the soldiers and started directing them towards the aircraft.

  “Ready.” The medic said, getting both Hulo’s and Keegan’s attention.

  The effects of the nano-bots were now noticeable on the human, and he was already starting to recover, allowing Keegan to roll over to see the medic place a small device on Ryan’s forehead. He tried to say something, but he was still too weak. The medic tapped a tiny button in the middle of the instrument and a soft zapping sound was emitted. Keegan looked at Ryan’s eyes, and one moment there was life in them, the next there was nothing.

  The medic pulled the device off her forehead and rose to his feet. “Done.”

  Hulo nodded, and then bent over Keegan and helped the doctor to his feet. “Time to go, my friend. He started walking away from the two bodies with Keegan under his arms. Turning back he caught his last glimpse of Ryan lying motionless in the snow, a blank expression on her face.

  Looking to his front, Keegan still felt a bit dizzy but was aware of the three aircraft as their engines revved to full power in anticipation of taking off. Keegan was dumped into the DC4 along with Hulo, the medic and some of the Canadians while the rest of the force boarded the two other birds.

  They were already positioned at the end of the runway, and throttled up to maximum and accelerated down the field fifty metres behind each other. Once in the air, Hulo ordered the scatter shield to be triggered, which fired off a digital electronic warfare blanket one hundred metres into the air that covered a ten-square kilometre area. Nothing from the air would be able to penetrate it for two minutes, enough time for the planes to get clear of Saskatoon, and with an Alliance jammer on each aircraft, they’d be undetectable as long as they wanted.

  Almost half a kilometre from the runway a very angry and dejected Sajoba sat in the snow shivering in the cold, surrounded by a group of half dazed infantry troopers who had just been completely overwhelmed in a gunfight. There was nothing to be done about it. They hadn’t suffered any casualties which was something, their armour had protected them from the bullets, but some minor injuries had been taken while they wildly retreated from the Alliance laser fire. It was evident to him that there was at least one competent Alliance unit still operating on the planet, and that they must have a plan. Why else would they travel halfway across the continent? There must have been something larger at play, it was just a question of what it was, and what possible threat could it pose to the Coalition forces in the system and their control of the planet.

  Looking at the shocked members of the infantry unit, Sajoba knew that he was going to have to answer to Varus when he got back into orbit, but there was something positive to come from it all, he now knew without a doubt that there were Alliance forces on the planet and they had the assistance of the locals. Their final destination was unknown, but their objective must be apparent, to retake the planet from the Coalition forces, but Sajoba shook his head at the notion, there was no chance that the small Alliance force and their local support would be able to disrupt the energy field that kept the planet safe from external intrusion and allow Alliance forces to retake the planet.

  Sector Commander Varus had been pacing back and forth in the Lone Hunter’s primary conference room since the minute he had heard of Base Commander Sajoba’s foray to Terra. The first indication that something was happening on the surface was when one of the ships in orbit over the planet had detected energy based weapons fire. That had alerted the Ship Master who forwarded the information to the Lone Hunter bridge, followed by Varus being alerted.

  After examining footage of the incident, it was clear to Varus that Sajoba had taken a small unit to the planet’s surface in an apparent attempt to intercept Alliance forces that were still on-world. After looking through all the footage of the short gun-battle, it was obvious to even the most unseasoned observer that Sajoba’s plot has failed.

  The indigenous aircraft had escaped the local area and were now headed to parts unknown. The shuttle that had taken Sajoba to the surface was returning to orbit, and with it a ground force that had performed to an entirely underwhelming standard. That, however, wasn’t the biggest issue that concerned Varus. Sajoba was the real problem. He was out of control and needed to be dealt with once and for all.

  “You discovered there were Alliance ground forces on the surface?” Varus asked. He was sat in a high back chair, his hands clasped at his chest.

  Sajoba nodded. “I suspected that something was going on the planet’s surface.” Sajoba was stood still, his body ridged. “I suspected Alliance activity.”

  Varus nodded. “And without informing myself of this discovery, you thought it best to take an untested infantry unit to the surface to attempt to do what?”

  “To prove my theory, and then detain the enemy forces.”

  Varus shook his head. “You did prove your theory, but instead of victory, you encountered an experienced Alliance force that was working with the indigenous forces, and you were swiftly repelled.” Varus looked over to the closest data-display where there was a constant loop of all operational footage from the infantry member’s helmets. “This video is very disturbing.” Varus got up from his chair and walked over to the display and looked at some of the action for a few moments. “We’ll have to send the entire unit back to the Pohjois for additional training, but this,” He paused and pointed at the screen. “Is a massive embarrassment for not only myself and the fleet in this system, but for all of ground combat command.” He shook his head and returned to his seat.

  Varus picked up a data-pad that had been resting on the large conference room table and examined the information on the screen. “After this incident, I have no choice but to send you back to Rancor 7 where you will resume your duties as the Base Commander.” Varus tapped a button on his wrist device, and the doors to the conference room opened and a pair of Light Sentinels walked into the room. “Escort the Base Commander to his quarters.”

  Varus turned his attention back to the combat footage as Sajoba was lead out of the room. He had known that Sajoba was a risk taker, but the times he had made those calls he had been the one in command. The moment he had become Varus’s subordinate, he needed to reign in his ways, but that hadn’t happened, and Varus knew that unless he relieved his second now, more incidents would surely follow.

  When the room was cleared, Varus looked around the empty space, and took a deep breath. The only conso
lation of this entire incident was the revelation that there were indeed Alliance forces on the surface, something that would need to be dealt with in a much more methodical and surgical manner.

  Rising to his feet, Varus picked up the data-pad, pushed in the chair he was sitting in and started to move towards the door when he was interrupted by a call from the bridge.

  “Sector Commander, Imperator Casix for you.”

  “Connect us.” Varus replied.

  “Varus.” Casix’s voice came through so clear it almost felt like he was in the room.

  “Imperator. To what do I owe the pleasure?” Varus replied.

  “I am looking forward to visiting your operations in roughly thirty days-time.”

  “I shall be ready, Sir.”

  “Good. And make sure Sajoba is there. I want to congratulate him on his work. This mineral he discovered looks to be a potential difference maker”

  Varus let out a sigh. “Of course, Sir.”

  The call ended, and Varus was left alone again in silence. Shaking his head, he looked down to the decking. “Fuck.”

  32

  Mechcharga

  2 February

  Sitting and waiting. That was what Rhea had been doing on board the Epsilon since it had landed on Mechcharga. The trouble was that it was proving impossible to contact any of the members of government or military that she and the rest of the Visitor Liaison Team had met with previously. It was like they had been swallowed whole by some unknown force. Junior Councillor Toup Ra had been assassinated on planet 242, and Elder Jrr Bak had died on Mechcharga under somewhat confusing circumstances. The fact that all her contacts were dead or missing did not help in her quest for the truth. Rhea knew that she was onto something, now it was just a question of confirming suspicions, and allegations that the Inquisitor prisoner had made.

  But things on Mechcharga had slowed to a near halt in the days following the arrival of the Epsilon. The princess, the head of the Alliance was gravely ill, and there was concern that the entire war, the whole Etelainen could be lost in the days following her death. There were already rumours of more remote systems stopping the payment of taxes and the disarming of local Alliance forces. It had the makings of the beginning of the end.

  The prisoner had implicated his contact at Fleet Intelligence, a junior commander who was stationed on Porth, which struck both Estiva Controller Daz and Royal Inspector Wey as odd since Porth was outside 5th Fleet command, while many signs pointed towards collaboration with the conspirators emanating from 5th Fleet.

  But none of that seemed to matter at the moment. Everyone was distracted with the heath of the princess, which is why, on the thirteenth day of sitting aboard the Epsilon doing nothing but waiting, the conspirators tipped their hand fatally.

  Night time on Mechcharga was always peaceful. Hardly a sound in the air that didn’t come from a creature lurking in the massive forests that covered the world. The bright lights of the massive city that housed most of the planet's population kept a steady glow on the horizon, but once night had set, the royal grounds were quiet. Even the docks where the Epsilon had landed and remained was quiet. No ships were permitted to land during nightfall for fear of disturbing those residing in the royal palace.

  Rhea hadn’t been sleeping well, and she had taken a sedative offered to her by Master Doctor Prure. She was dead to the world, and completely unaware of the micro surveillance device that had been slipped aboard the ship by an agent in the pay of the conspirators. The device was so small that it was almost invisible to the naked eye and even came equipped with an internal cloaking and counter-electronics surveillance package.

  While the device might have been non-lethal, it did allow the user the ability to eavesdrop on the crew of the Epsilon, and most importantly, Royal Inspector Wey, the most dangerous person to the conspiracy aboard the ship, whose presence they were still unaware of.

  When the device reached the ships open hangar bay doors, it flew in under its own power, right past Sentinel Four who was oblivious to its presence. The device first made its way to the bridge, and found it devoid of activity, then started to conduct a systematic search of the ship, checking every compartment to get a manifest of everyone and everything aboard the ship. The ships living quarters were where the search intensified.

  After guiding itself through several of the Epsilon quarters, it finally came to Rhea’s room and entered, conducted its scan, then departed without leaving a trace. Moving down the dimly lit corridor, the device reached its next door and just as it was about to use its hyper slim frame, a result of nanotechnology, to slip into the room, a white beam of light shone down from the top of the hallway, trapping the nearly invisible device in a forcefield.

  The door of the room slid open, and out stepped a half-dressed Royal Inspector Wey.

  “I was wondering how long it’d take.” He said to himself. Looking down at his wrist communicator, he quickly brought up Estiva Controller Daz. “Come to my quarters at once.”

  Wey killed the channel and reached up to the force-field device that he had attached to the ceiling of the corridor. Unhooking the device, he retracted the beam of white light, along with the trapped micro-drone.

  Smiling, Wey walked back inside his room and turned on the light above the fold-down desk, and sat down behind it. Using as much care as his old hands could manage, Wey attached the forcefield device into a dark grey metal ball, then twisted the top shut. His smile got bigger as he casually dropped the ball onto the table. Reaching forward he pulled out a small bottle of his favourite libation and poured its contents into a cup that was sitting on the desk. Taking a sip, he closed his eyes and waited for Daz. He had lost a lot of sleep since their arrival. He knew there was an inevitability to the actions of whoever was behind the conspiracy. All he had to do was wait.

  A single knock announced Daz, who quickly entered the room, closing the door behind him.

  “You rang?”

  Wey nodded. “Sit down.” He indicated to the nearby bed. The room was cramped with just enough room for Daz to squeeze behind the chair and sit down. “Someone was conducting a reconnaissance on the ship using this.” He picked up the metal object and tossed it to Daz.

  Daz caught the ball and looked at it for a moment, then looked to Wey. “And this is?”

  “A micro information gathering device. Very exotic. Very expensive. In fact,” He paused and looked at Daz, “I’m fairly confident that they are only made for Alliance military use at one facility on this world.” He leaned back and took another sip of his drink. “This is not the kind of item that wanders out of a holding facility or production centre.” He shook his head. “Not this little device.”

  Daz put the ball on the table. “So, you know who withdrew the device from the facility?”

  “Not yet.” Wey put down the cup. “But that part is easy.”

  Daz tilted his head to one side. “What’s our move?”

  Wey looked at his associate. “We scan the device, get any and all identifiable markings, then proceed to its point of origin and find out who signed for it.”

  Daz shook his head. “You really believe that it will be that easy?”

  Wey picked up his glass again. “That’s the beauty of this situation. Whoever used the device must have had one hundred percent confidence in its success because I have the only device built to counter it in existence. They weren’t counting on that.” Wey picked up the ball again. “Hard to plan for an outcome when you don’t know what you’re going up against.”

  Daz got up from the bed and walked back to the door. “When shall we leave?”

  Wey waved his hand dismissing the question. “Soon. First I must contact Admiral Taark.”

  The next morning Rhea woke up and performed her daily fitness routine in the Epsilon’s hangar bay, then took breakfast with the ship’s crew. Everything was going as she would have expected until Wey sat down next to her.

  “There is a development in our investigation.” He s
aid under his breath as if trying to keep their conversation confidential. “I have spoken with Admiral Taark on Traxis to bring him up to speed.”

  Rhea looked at Wey with anticipation in her eyes. “Yes?”

  Wey smiled. “Last night, someone or someone’s attempted to conduct a reconnaissance of this vessel using a nanobot device. I was able to capture the device, and I know where it came from.”

  Rhea looked down at her food for a moment, then back at Wey. “Where?”

  “A very small manufacturer in the local city.” Wey stood up from the bench Rhea was sat on. “You, Daz and I shall depart at the top of the hour and travel there.” Without saying another word, Wey quickly spun around and exited the ship’s dining facility.

  After finishing her meal, Rhea returned to her quarters and grabbed her leather flight jacket and walked alone to the hangar bay. In it she found Ranix speaking with Roper Daz and Wey, who was wearing the uniform of a member of the Alliance fleet, and a reflective, tear-drop shaped mask.

  Rhea walked up to the trio and looked at Wey. “Going incognito?”

  Wey shook his head. “I have no idea what that means, but if you’re referring to the mask, then I must make my presence here on Mechcharga known to as few people as possible.”

  Rhea nodded and looked at Ranix. “Not coming?” She asked.

  “No. The Royal Inspector thinks that the smaller the party, the less it will be noticed.” He replied. “The Royal Palace has supplied an open travel barge for your transport.” Ranix motioned his arm towards the open hangar bay hatch.

  Rhea followed Daz and Wey as they moved towards the opening, and spotted the ten-metre long craft that looked like a simple punt found on Earth. It had a square bow, and the sides were only a few centimetres high. At the rear of the craft was a small antenna with a white light on the top and nothing else. No pilot, no visible engine. It was very simple in appearance.