Galactic Freighter: Scourge of the Deep Space Pirates (Contact) (42 page)

The Kalazecis gave what amounted to a shrug. "That is a matter for the Emperor." He touched his shoulder comm and shortly another Kalazecis arrived. "This officer will stay along with six Pagmok to guard your ship."

"And you?" Buck asked.

"To find and kill those who attacked you," said the officer as if routine. "They will not escape punishment."

It took Tommy an hour to determine the needed parts and comm to order the replacements from the on orbit ship with an admonishment to
git them parts amovin'
.

Buck's comm sounded. "Emperor Djac will see you and the Admiral," a Kalazecis voice said and broke the connection.

Buck knew that meant now.

The officer stepped next to him with a look of concern, said, "I am at risk saying this, but you have shown respect for the Kalazecis. The officer who attacked you and we killed was the Emperor's brother." The officer regained his aircar and left with the remainder of the Pagmok following.

Buck stood dumfounded.

"Whew," he let a slow long breath escape. "What do I do with that?" he asked with a glance at the Admiral.

"Looks like our ride is here and I don't know," Tenkiller said as three aircars approached. "This is one hell of a mess we've gotten into. Minister, we're in a full scale rebellion or about to be."

Buck told Tommy to stay alert and if trouble came their way, for him and the Marines to stay in the launch. "At least it's defendable," he added. "Keep in touch, my friend."

He and Tenkiller entered the aircar.

It lifted and headed for the palace one escort ahead the other behind in single file. Instead of landing at the portico, the driver steered into the underground parking, stopping at an elevator. A Kalazecis joined them in the lift.

Still in their body armor, the two men filled most of the small compartment's space.

They entered an office and shortly the Emperor appeared through a side door.

Both bowed as Djac motioned them into chairs.

Learning the Kalazecis facial, body expressions, and mannerisms gave Buck a better understanding of these people. Djac smiled as he sized up Buck.

"Sir Fryman, your size is remarkable and in body armor, startling." Djac ordered hassocks brought in for the two as neither man could fit in any chair.

Buck nodded as Tenkiller grinned.

"A number of officers have taken up arms against the throne," Djac said as if something sinister had awakened in him. "More are favorable to the crown so I think we'll prevail. But many Pagmok and Kalazecis will die before this is settled."

"Majesty, what's really going on?" Buck asked. "I've not heard any grievance that justifies a rebellion." He was relying on Tommy’s input and usually, that was very thorough. His friend listened but more importantly, seemed to have that innate ability to understand what someone had not said. This was a very rare trait and Buck trusted the man’s instincts.

"I'm sure you know the officer executed yesterday was my brother; half-brother as you would say although we make no such distinction." Djac showed no remorse as he laid the reasons before them. "Njec has wanted the throne for years. He has a small following in the officer corps but they lack the resources to win.

"Mahoney had won Njec’s favor by promising to put him on the throne and in turned declare Ajnoc as
Prince In Waiting
, thereby giving Jarred what he had been denied—a world of his own. To his reckoning, the Pagmok would ensure that it stayed that way. Your presence was sufficient to spark the attack on you but also disrupted their plot. The death of Njec angered enough officers to trigger the revolt, prematurely I suspect since Mahoney isn’t here. I anticipated some discontent but not the open revolt we now face. I misjudged their anger and resolve. However, as I said, we will win. These traitors have limited access to arms and water, and no way to replenish either. I expect at least ten thousand Pagmok will die."

Djac hadn’t mentioned food and from what Buck knew about the Pagmok history of cannibalism, he shuddered.

Buck expressed his concern for the population, mostly the Pagmok civilians.

"They are not prepared for a fight and will suffer greatly," Djac said his face flush with anger. "Pagmok kill indiscriminately when ordered to do so and I have no doubt the order will come."

"If I may, how many officers remain loyal?" Buck asked.

"Eighty percent, fifteen thousand, and they are the more experienced."

"Majesty, it doesn’t make sense. It cost Mahoney a great deal of credits to bring all those people to Myslac and build the synthetics plant. He had your favor and then threw that away. Once Mahoney had won the loyalty of the throne, why waste that effort on an attack against Katakan? Am I missing something?"

"I attribute that to vanity," Djac said. "He must have wanted to punish Sebastian and you to show his self-importance. Doing so, he would rally those who favor an overthrow of your Emperor."

Buck nodded. Djac’s assessment made sense. It didn’t matter now. Mahoney had miscalculated and that would cost him everything.

Buck reflected that he had thought the same thing at Katakan and been proven wrong. He must not underestimate the lengths Mahoney would go to get his way.

"Sebastian has instructed me to offer his fleet in support of your efforts."

"Thank your Emperor and you, but no. We must handle this in our own way," Djac responded as Buck had expected.

"Admiral, we have ignored you." Djac turned toward Tenkiller. "I am curious about you and your ancestors." Djac touched a desk icon. "Sir Tommy gave us considerable information, primarily to relieve our concerns over your name," he said with a chuckle and added, "Your people lost their war and now you wear the uniform of the victors. Why is that?"

Djac left the office and didn't wait for an answer. Tommy commed the launch was repaired and Ten Killer left in an aircar to space for the Cochise. Buck told Tommy wait for him at the bunker near the launch takeoff site.

Chapter Forty:
The Battle for Myslac

"
W
hat do we do, Buck, Sire?" Ajnoc’s voice showed no fear. "The noise grows louder. Soon the Pagmok will be upon us."

Buck, in an aircar with a Pagmok squad as escort led by a Kalazecis officer, had received a request to pick up the boy, along with his nurse and bring them to the palace. They’d had to take refuge in a plasticrete walled building when attacked by warriors led by a revolting Kalazecis officer. One Pagmok died defending the minister and boy.

Amazed at the Ajnoc's comprehension of the trouble they faced, Buck took the boy’s hand and said, "Don’t worry. Warriors will soon be here to help us." Of that, he had no assurances, they had no contact anyone since taking refuge.

The boy, now five T-years old, carried the favorable traits of both races and seemingly none of their awkward or undesirable characteristics. Djac had said this child must survive. Mjonca, Ajnoc’s mother, had left him in the care of a nurse to attend some personal business. Contrary to Djac’s assurances, the rebels had successfully breached the city’s defenses, cutting her off from home.

Remaining where they were clearly wasn’t an option. Buck took a head count. Fifty civilians had sought shelter in the building, mostly Kalazecis men, and the five remaining Pagmok warriors along with their Kalazecis officer.

"Tommy, what is your situation?" Buck asked into his shoulder comm.

"'Bout a thousand meters from the palace. Where’re you?"

Buck gave their coordinates and asked if Tommy was close enough to join them.

The engineer said, "It may take us a bit to git ta ya. There’s a bunch we got to git rid of then we’ll be at your door. Mjonca is with us."

Buck keyed Tenkiller. "Admiral, where is the Kalazecis fleet? Why haven’t we heard from them?"

"They have spaced, fighting their own war. Some of the Kalazecis fleet officers sided with Mahoney. The outcome has yet to be determined. One Kalazecis ship attacked us and we killed it." Iona’s heavy cruisers not only better armed, but out massed the Kalazecis light cruisers both by a factor of two, and Iona’s ships were fitted with light battleship engines. In a one-on-one fight the Kalazecis were no match. A single ship attack was nothing but suicide.

"Admiral, it seems we are in the fight like it or not. You are to offer help when requested and seek targets of opportunity." Buck didn't caution the Admiral not to shoot the loyal Pagmok since he couldn't tell them from the rebels. Despite Djac’s admonition not to join the battle, Buck would not stand by and watch the Emperor fall. And he couldn’t ignore the problems his own people faced. Capture meant certain death for the humans who supported the Emperor; maybe even those who had not sided with either.

Buck smiled. Tenkiller had anticipated the order and positioned the fleet on near orbit above Myslac. Twenty heavily armed launches with two thousand Marines were approaching the planet and would be dirtside in less than ten minutes. Admiration for the Indian was evident in how the officers and enlisted men responded to the man, all to Buck’s satisfaction. And there was Tenkiller's reputation. In his own right, he was a formidable warrior.

"Admiral, the palace is under attack, remove that threat," ordered Buck and received the acknowledgement.

"Lord Fryman," Tommy’s voice crackled over the comm, "There's a bunch of Pagmok headed your way. If you can git out of that place you’re in, there’s a bunker not too far from ya. Hell of a lot better spot than where ya are."

Buck punched up an area map on a vid-screen and located the underground shelter. A slow breath escaped him as he noted it was open area all the way.

"We must leave this place and now," he said to the Kalazecis officer. "Gather the people and what possessions they can carry. Tell them to take what is needed." To cover the distance meant exposure to attack. Separated from the loyal Pagmok force by kilometers, running seemed the one possibility to avoid the oncoming army.

He looked up as Tommy Simms popped into the building, Mjonca in hand. A cry of relief escaped the mother as she and Ajnoc embraced.

"Sir Tommy, glad to see you're still alive," Buck said with a touch of levity. "Got one of your hare-brained ideas that could get us out of this problem? Where are the Marines?"

"They went with the Admiral," Tommy said. "I left ta help with the fighin' an' told them to git."

Tommy patted a couple of children. "No good ideas, Minister. Reckon we'll just have to fight our way out. The Emperor is safe, at least for the time bein’." He noted that Marines had landed and cleared the area around the palace. For that, Buck was thankful.

"Tommy, I’m concerned. The Emperor must have underestimated the number of rebellious officers and Pagmok."

"Don’t think so," Tommy said. "Mahoney’s scientist friend got a few to follow him. Treacherous bastard that guy. But there ain’t enough of them an' from what I seen their warrior ways can’t stand up against an organized offense. I guess I didn’t tell ya but I met with a few of the loyal Kalazecis and showed them a thing or two about fighin’. Put a stop to that head on charge thing they usually do. Got ‘em to understand what a good thought out assault meant."

As they prepared to leave, Buck asked, "Any idea if Mahoney made it to the surface?"

"I ain’t for sure. Nothing but rumors. No one's seen him. I heard he came down with that freighter crew that got shot ta hell but it don't make no sense. You know how tough they made it on us tryin' to land." An unregistered freighter came in system and ignored the order to orbit for inspection. Shot by a Myslac picket ship, and escorted to low orbit, the crew ferried dirtside. "Mahoney weren't on the ship."

"Admiral," Buck said into his shoulder comm, "We need cover for a run to a bunker." He keyed the coordinates into his comm piece.

The Kalazecis officer had cracked open the door watching for the launch. He signaled it had arrived and under the protection of the launch’s guns, they left the building for the bunker. Pagmok warriors helped where needed with their officer at the head of the group. That in itself was unusual as normally, the officers led from behind.

They’d almost reached safety when a Pagmok appeared from the corner of the building and tossed a flash grenade into their midst.

Belatedly, Buck threw his arms to protect his eyes. Closest to the explosion, badly burned and blinded, he fell to the ground, dazed but conscious. The warrior jumped on the downed minister.

Buck grabbed the Pagmok, and, unsighted, drove his massive fist into the warrior’s head. He shoved the unconscious body away and keyed his comm.

Tommy rushed to Buck. "Come on. Git up Buck. This ain’t no time to be restin’."

"I’m blind," Buck said apologetically.

"Well, ain’t this a fix." Tommy grabbed the big man, got him on his feet and the two stumbled toward the bunker as Kalazecis helped the other injured.

Tommy keyed the comm, "Admiral, Buck needs help quick like. Git your ass down hy're an' with your best doctor."

"That isn't any way to address the Fleet Admiral."

"Glad ya tole me. I'll try ta remember."

Once inside, Tommy dug through his beggar’s pack for a tube of ointment, rubbed it over Buck’s eyes, and covered them with a surgical wrapping.

Kalazecis applied the same treatment to the other injured not knowing whether or not it would help.

"Don’t look too bad. This salve will ease the pain."

Minutes later aboard the launch, Buck, along with the other survivors, headed for an on-orbit Ionian ship.

The launch settled into the HMS Cochise hanger bay and the landing crew secured it to the rails. A medical team rushed aboard, took charge of the blinded Fryman and the other injured.

***

Hours later, the doctor and Admiral Tenkiller entered sickbay. "You are a very lucky man, Lord Fryman," the doctor said. "The ointment Sir Simms applied saved your eyes. Your sight should improve quickly and you can be up and around in a day. Shouldn’t have any scaring but you will carry a bit of a red face for a few weeks."