Wine of the Gods 05: Spy Wars (5 page)

1 Rabi 1363 / Late Winter 1361 local

Fascia,
Auralian Empire, Target Forty-two

"Radio intercepts agree with our agent's observations of the natives' military movements. Apparently the Earth probe was defeated easily, and the native magic users have sent a diplomatic message and have restricted the Earth forces to the immediate environs of the Gate Anchor." Ajha finished his prepared report.

The hologram raised a hand imperiously.
"The Earth isn't rushing more troops into the war zone?" The princess was attending remotely. It was unnerving to not be able to get any hint of opinion from the image at the table, but nice to not be fighting to pay attention to anything but her aura. She'd be in isolation until the marriage, and have limited freedom of movement after, as well.

Ajha tried to not wonder about the life expectancy of the Amma, if he didn't charm this very well trained agent of the One.

Idre fielded the question. "No, Princess. From our intercepts, they're just finished their world-wide elections, so now they are coming up on their regional elections, and the economy is more important. Additionally, they are under the impression that the One are responsible for their defeat, and they don't want word of it getting out."

"Politicians! I suppose they'll suddenly discover the presence of the One after the elections, and invade in force then. So we've got a bit of breathing space." She flicked a glance at the
Information Team. "However, we can count on them spying. Most likely they'll concentrate on the Kingdom of the West."

Ajha felt compelled to add, "Our radio intercepts are rapidly adding to our thin knowledge of Earth. A dedicated team of analysts might be useful."

The princess' image eyed him. "I suspect our reports, which include the raw radio intercepts are getting that analysis already." Her glance flicked to the older team members. "What have you found out about the local magic?"

Egto jumped in. "
A sampling of genetics shows that the natives have had an infusion of the genes of the Prophets, some time in the past. Possibly the earliest Exploration teams; they were active here in Fascia. We have detected all six gene insertion packets. That is to say, the natives average two insertion packets each. but all six are present in the local population. Ten percent have none at all. Eight gene packets—three double and two single copies—is the highest we've seen, and only a single individual had that many. We have not found any copies of the One Gene. But, we have only a small sample size so far."

Wink took over. "
The paucity of magic in their everyday life seems to indicate that the power genes are extremely rare in the majority of the population. But everyone believes in Magic, despite its rarity. Rumors are circulating here that the ‘God of War’ assisted the Westerners in repelling an attack from Verona. And then there's Pax, here. I think we've all seen his glow. So I won't be surprised to find the One Gene here as well. We've gone from thinking that only these thirteen so-called Gods had abilities worth noticing, to realizing that a tiny portion of the population could have magical abilities."

Rior frowned at the
m. "They fought off two companies of Earth troops, so however rare or isolated, they must have schools for training their magical talents. And some way to spot talented youngsters as they reach puberty."

Idre nodded. "Remember that this is on top of the reports of the Temple of Ba'al in Karista, and the magic associated with it.”

"It seems too wide-spread and well established to blame on the early explorers. Bribe some of the serving staff, get a sample of Pax' genes from a glass or silverware. We need to know more about what we're dealing with. Oner descendants or something odd. Sample some elderly people, see if the number of people with the insertions has been rising or falling in every generation."

The Ambassador bowed to her image. "Yes, Princess. I'll have that sample
from Pax collected immediately. You are correct that we must take the native magic seriously."

Hovering on the outskirts of the Amma's nightly feast, Ajha was able to snag a fork Pax had used.

The analyzer results were a shock. The
native "god" not only had all twelve insertions—two each of the six different types—he had power genes on both the X chromosome and the Y.

The Ambassador sent the samples, Pax' and all the rest, for in-depth testing at home. Two weeks later they received new equipment designed to detect
native vs Oner genes.

Ajha read the enclosed note.

"The six insertions are clearly related to the Genes of the Prophets, but they lack a few of our genes, and have one artificial gene never before seen. Some of the other genes are unknown alleles of our genes. The power genes are, again, similar, but not identical to the One and the Priest genes. Send more samples."

"Relat
ed to the Genes of the Prophets." Edmo, the Action Team leader read over his shoulder. "Ha! A pack of native halfers." He curled a lip as he looked out the window at the dusty street. A dirty beggar dodged a horse drawn wagon. Two blowsy prostitutes accosted a man. One was looking seductive, the other was picking his pocket. "They're well below even our Halfers, both in genes and . . . culture. Just animals."

"But there's no generational difference.
No differences with immigrants from other regions with no known Oner contact at all. These genes have been in the population for a long time." Ajha frowned at his results. "Makes me wonder about Those Left Behind. We know that wherever the Prophets came from . . ."

"Well they didn't come from here!" Edmo waved at the tableau in the street. "This lot was not traveling the Multiverse thirteen centuries ago."

Wink perked up. "No, but we've been exploring across the dimensions for well over a century. Maybe an early party was marooned here." He glanced back at the screen showing Pax' results, and his face fell. "Well, maybe there are lots of mutagens here."

Out on the street, the prostitutes' target turned with a yell, collapsed as the women bolted. No one stopped to check if he was alive or dead.

Ajha felt sick.
This is the reality of the lesser races. Even with magic. That was a stun spell, crudely used by petty street criminals. We will improve their government and bring them true civilization. Hopefully not too slowly.

Then he braced himself and walked out.

Wink trotted after him. "What are you doing?"

"If we ca
n find those two women, we might find out where they learned their magic."

"One, you are
a clever boy, aren't you."

Three blocks later they spotted a faint glow and split up
to approach from opposite directions. The women spotted Wink, smiled and batted their eyelashes. He wafted a subtle spell of peaceful talkativeness over the women. One saw it, tried to run, and bounced off Ajha as he swooped around from the other side. Her frightened eyes softened as the spell took solid hold.

And they started chattering away.
Wink steered the subject, to their past, their educations . . . They were cousins, their granny had showed them a few tricks she'd learned from her own mother. No school, no organized training. No grasp of hygiene. Ajha swapped glances with Wink and they sent the women on their way. With strong recommendations regarding baths and laundry.

"Hard to believe they can make enough to live on." Wink scratched his arm.

"That may be why they rob. I think I need a long hot soak." Ajha strode out for the hotel. Ignoring an itch.

The Ambassador called them in for new orders. "We're taking an opportunity to worsen relations between the Earth and the Kingdom of the West. Not to mention getting a trio of boats out to sea for trials." He flicked a grin their direction. "So polite, asking no questions while the four of you are fairly quivering with curiosity. One boat, ship I suppose, the Garavette, looks like any other native three-masted sailing ship, although we've worked it over. We've hired a native captain and crew, rescued them from Auralian justice, which, as you've noticed, runs toward enslavement, castration and mines. So they have plenty of reason to be loyal to us.

"The other boats are modern catamarans. One hull
of each can hold a good sized aircar, the other is set up for crew and passengers. We can thus move quickly between Discordia and here. Or wherever we won't raise eyebrows. Such as Asia."

Idre brightened. "We could land in any of several spots and be within an aircar's striking range of the Earth gate."
They all stood to examine the world map the Ambassador had on his wall.

"Exactly. The
second Action Team has taken the local ship around to the Kingdom of the West, to procure some authentic looking evidence in their capital city of Karista. They'll sail back to Panama, and cross over to the Kara Sea. One of the catamarans will pick the team up in Iskandar. Actually, they should be doing that right about now. The other will pick you four up here, and both cats will cross the Atlantic, round the Cape of Africa and sail up to India. In place of the Ganges, there's this deep bight. A high pass through the Himalayas and you'll be in easy striking distance of the Earth gate. You will be under Action Leader Kael's command, assisting them in creating a very authentic looking native raid on the Earthers."

Egto whistled. "This could be fun."

The
Information Team reported to the catamaran when it docked. The sleek modern craft was getting plenty of attention from the other ships, from the dockworkers . . . The Info team hauled their minimal luggage aboard and the ship sailed on the out going tide. The ship was highly automated, with a three man crew.

Ajha ran an eye over the accommodations. "You can take close
to thirty people at a shot?"

The captain nodded. "
I can move the wall for larger or smaller rooms. Replace the aircar with the other passenger model, and I can carry seventy-five comfortably, double or triple if they sleep in shifts." He peered at his instruments. "The other catamaran is coming up fast behind us. We'll swap out some of the Action Team, then pick up speed and get you lot to the Bight of Ganges in twenty-five days."

Kael
, the female Team Leader, was just as scary as he remembered.

The
Action Team's luggage was a bit . . . odd.

"Those cold cases." Ajha shivered. "What
do they have in them?"

"They
're turned on." Idlo shrugged. "Maybe they've kidnaped some Earthers?"

"Kidnap
ed? You mean killed. And froze. Make it look like they went native? Deserted, perhaps?" Ajha's stomach flipped.
Thank the One I'm on an Info team!

Egto hunched his shoulders. "They are a bit coffin shaped, aren't they?
I suppose leaving some dead natives behind will make our raid look really authentic."

"It . . . would be a good idea to drop the speculation." Idlo snapped. "We're Oner's and we follow the orders of our superiors."

Ajha winced.
Yeah, don't get cocky and start thinking you know more than your boss.
He ignored the cold flutters in his stomach and followed the others. The cold cases were in a cabin at the rear. The Action leader had an enlarged stateroom midship. In between, a single team of four men had transferred with her, leaving the other three four-man teams and the two subleaders aboard the other Cat.

T
he Info Team reported to the Action Leader. Her aide eyed them from the far side of the empty room, but said nothing.

Kael
looked them over and sneered. "Four of you, and you don't coordinate at all."

Wis
e straightened. "We're an Info Team, we don't need to . . . " He shut up at a chopping motion of her hand.

"Stand up, all four of you. Like it or not, you're going to learn, so you aren't a liability in Asia." She produced a knife, and nearly stabbed Idre as he fumbled taking it from her.

Red faced, he nicked his left wrist and handed the knife to Wink. Wink paled at the sight of his own blood, and passed the knife to Egto.

Ajha swallowed, took the knife and made a shallow slice. He flinched, but managed to hand the knife back to the Action Leader without, he hoped, of any sign of how faint he felt.

Their grasps were sticky with already drying blood.

"Calm your minds. Remember your first meditations. The One is all, all are of the One. Hear each other. Say it together in your minds."

And that easily, he could hear it. Idre and Wink apprehensive, Egto astonished. Ajha knew he was the least experienced of them, but he hadn't realized how short their lead was. Training and ability-wise. They all had only the most basic training in group magic.

:: How can you be so strong, Clostuone? ::

Was that Wnco? He wasn't sure.

:: I have a double set of the insertions, but they have enough dropped genes, here and there, that I missed having a single complete set
of one hundred and eight genes. ::

That indignant feel was probably Egto. A bit of an insecure feeling. Did Ajha have a higher number of individual genes than the Neartuone?
Or did the Neartuone, despite have one full set, lack one or more entire insertions in his second set?