Alliance Hunter
Chapter 28

I stood my eyes on the door in front of me frustration building up inside. I had to get this done time was running out. The last thing I wanted was a massacre because I hadn’t shut down the defences in this place. “I’ve yet to replace the control room,” I said to the barrette comms unit in my hair. There had to be one. I was taking a chance here. I opened the door to replace another corridor. “This place is a damn maze,” I cursed. With my pistol at the ready I moved cautiously down it. I did note this corridor seemed a lot cleaner than the rest of the place. It seemed in my mind to take forever to walk the short distance to the next door. I drew a deep breath and opened the door. It was an office of sorts with wall to wall cabinets filled with museum pieces. Most seemed to be T’Arni in make but I was no expert. I had expected the same as Sophronia’s with her torture exhibits. On the far wall was another door. In the centre of the room facing my door was a desk and terminal combo. Seated behind the desk was a man a few decades older than I was by my estimate. On the desk in front of him rested a coffeepot and mug. The man was wearing one of those charcoal business suits that a lot of men wore and had a curling moustache and goatee beard. On his head he wore a beret giving him a Bohemian look. I considered the irony of his gab considering it made him look like an image from the nineteen-sixties on Earth. I guess he must be the Curator a title that made him look as ridiculous as it sounded. He gave me a look then poured himself a coffee as if a woman holding a gun pointed at him was the norm. He took a sip seeming remarkably calm for the situation he was in.

“Would you like to take a seat?” he asked me as if he was making polite small talk.

“No!” I replied tersely and moved to the side so my back wasn’t against the door.

“Have it your way,” he said waving his hand in my direction. “I just wanted you to make yourself comfortable before your friends arrive.”

“Friends?” I was suspicious of his motives.

“They don’t send an assault fleet just to be friendly. I knew our time was up when those drop ships started to descend into the forest.”

I got a sinking feeling he’d had this place evacuated. “Where are the rest of you?” I raised my pistol pointing it directly at him.

“Gone.”

“Gone where?” I demanded.

“I won’t tell you that.”

I changed subjects the Confeds could pick them up their leisure. “How do I shut off the defences?”

“Already done.” The man sipped his coffee.

“Done?”

“I’ve turned off the sentry guns too many priceless artefacts would get damaged in a fire fight.”

I came to the opinion he cared more about that than his underlings. “Just like that?” I had to admit I was more than a little sceptical about that.

“Just like that. I knew as soon as the Director went dark the game was over. It would only be a matter of time before you found us.”

“So why not abandon this place all together?”

“The last thing I wanted was for you to smash this place up. I knew time was against us.”

“So all this is a delaying action?” My finger itched to pull the trigger but the practical part of my mind wanted to know more.

“In part I’d figured you’d drag Doris with you.”

“Doris?”

“Poor Doris our loyal receptionist. She had to go. She knew too much. Not names but any tepe could pull the faces from her mind.”

I was shocked by the callousness of his statement. “Bastard!” I snarled I wanted to shoot him there and then but the practical part of me held me back. “You murdered her!”

“Yes, I freely admit I am a bastard and yes Doris had to die. Despite what I’ve learned I remain loyal to the Patriots.”

I felt my anger notch up. “Is that what you call yourselves?” I said sarcastically. “Yet you are willing to murder millions to prove a point? Disgusting!”

He nodded sadly, I didn’t think it genuine. “That’s true but it wasn’t my division. Saros was an over ambitious mistake.”

I suspect that had been my mistake saying I was from Saros. Doris must have had direct contact with this Curator. Which was why she had come at me with a gun a stupidly fatal mistake, which led to her death. Admittedly that was my fault but I wasn’t to know that.

“And Alfheimir?” I said coldly.

I saw him glance at my bracelet the one thing I hadn’t been able to remove.

“An even bigger mistake. The Enari are our strongest allies in the war to come.”

“With the Empire.” So that was were all this shit was heading to another war with the Empire. One we hadn’t started.

“The Rhosani,” he said quietly.

My blood ran cold; he had to be lying. “Rhosani?”

He waved his hand above his head. “Who do you think is orchestrating this?” he made another gesture. “I’ve only learned this recently but I’ve had my suspicions for a long time. Think on it. Why develop a neurotoxin that kills only humans. There are a lot of humans in the Confederation. It’s a Rhosani plot using us to defeat ourselves.”

I could believe what I was hearing it had to be lies. But deep in my heart I knew for the truth. As much as I hated it, it seemed logical. “You are lying?” I accused him.

He gave me a flat look. “Would you feel better if I had lied. I’m very serious about this. Ask yourself why do we have Terran weapons when we hate Terrans?” He gave me a look. “You were DNA scanned when you entered the museum. You may look human but the scans say you aren’t?” He took another sip of his coffee like that was the only thing that mattered. “This really has a piquant taste.”

I ignored his comments, he was right that I wasn’t human but the rest of it seemed like he was stalling for what I did not know. “Why if you know all this you tortured my team?”

He seemed startled by that. I was more than a little surprised I’d thought he’d already known I was part of the team. The only member he hadn’t picked up. Obviously Sophronia had kept that kernel to herself. I’d assumed that he knew it was me but this put a different light on things.

“They were your team. You are the one the Director had.” I saw him look closely at my Valkyrie bracelet. “I assumed you were with the fleet?” He looked again at my bracelet he seemed to be considering things. “I see.” He hummed a tune I didn’t know and spoke again. “The Enari and the fleet working together…”

His eyes suddenly glazed, his breath went shallow and his words became slurred. “This is a really good poison no tepe will be able to read my thoughts now!”

with that he slumped back into his chair. His mug dropped from his nerveless fingers and dropped to the floor and smashed. Spurred into action I rushed to his side my fingers feeling for a pulse in his neck. There was none.

“The Curator is dead!” I commed my barrette. “Poison,” I stated. Gingerly moving the coffeepot away from me I examined his computer. It was open and from the looks of it a lot of data had been erased. An Ezaran could replace out what was on it later, I had more important things to deal with. True to his word he had disabled what he had called sentry guns in the bunker. I also took note he had a number of spy camera’s in the bunker, warehouse and cells. It appeared I had been tracked all the way down. I hadn’t a chance of reaching him without him knowing. That galled me. He had his guard wait for me in order to kill Doris. He had been right any telepath could have got information from her mind. I wasn’t sure if he had been certain his guard would have killed me. In that I’d bet he hedged his bets. The only other thing of note was that he had left the schematics for the underground facility untouched. To my chagrin I saw a long five-kilometre tunnel running from the warehouse to a commercial warehouse at the local shuttle port. I commed the waiting squads again. I assumed they were on the move now. “There’s a second exit that leads to a warehouse in the shuttle port. My team are alive but in need of medical attention.” There was nothing more I could do here.

I headed back to my team. We would have to hunker down and wait for rescue. I wasn’t about to wonder around down here.

I halted outside the door to the room containing my team and knocked.

“It’s Gwen I’m coming in!” I shouted unsure if they could hear me.

The door slide open and I stepped through. Bergljot and Audbjorg flanked the door. One with a rather vicious looking knife, the other with a steel bar. Kadlin crouched over the operating table her pistol trained on the door. Both Denassi and Kelli crouched behind two overturned tables each clutching makeshift weapons. Only Jervic was missing he I assumed was still in the cell stitcher. They all relaxed on seeing me.

“Help is on the way!” I told them. I urged caution. “We’re the only ones here at the moment. We stay here until the Confeds get here.” I winced a bit at that I’d fallen into my old ways.

“You going to be ok?” Kelli asked concerned.

I nodded and told her about my conversation with the Curator. “Is it possible the Rhosani are behind this?” I began to think I was getting into things over my head. Vanessa I could deal with but messing with the Rhosani was beyond my limited capabilities.

“That’s is possible but that’s not our concern,” Kelli told me. “We’ve done what we were supposed to do. Everything else is up to Com Ops,” Kelli stated. “As to this Curator taking poison is the standard way to escape tepes.”

I considered her words there wasn’t anything we could do. Or could we? An errant thought crossed my mind. “Denassi if you get a chance try and see what’s on the Curators terminal. He had it all it all erased I’m certain you can replace out?”

“I’m on it!” Denassi said enthusiastically.

I handed him my pistol. “Take this,” I said and added. “Be careful I’m not certain that all left?” I glanced at the body the team had dragged into a corner. “The Curator could have been lying about that?” Something told me he had told the truth in that at least.

Denassi shrugged. “No one ever takes notice of us Ezarans.”

I watched him leave wondering if I was doing the right thing.

We waited all tensing when the door slid open. Several Confed soldiers rushed in I couldn’t identify the symbols on their shoulder pads. The Valkyrie went alert.

“Drop your weapons!” The Confeds shouted.

“Go away and bother someone else!” Audbjorg yelled back.

“Drop your weapons!” The Confeds barked again.

The situation swayed on a knife-edge. Suddenly, there was movement at the back of the Confeds. Kara pushed her way through her mouth in a tight line. She carried a medical satchel with her were several more medics with that odd blood symbol on the shoulder pads.

“Out of the way idiots!” she shouted at the Confeds confronting us. “They are with us!”

I relaxed as did the Valkyrie.

Kara strode over to Kelli ignoring me her face professional. “Medical assessment doctor?”

“Cuts and bruises mostly. Lieutenant Gorana had the worst of it. We put him in the cell stitcher.”

“Good!” Kara turned to her gaggle of medics. “I’ll get an assessment from Lieutenant Hunter the rest of you will see to the injuries of her team.” She looked around. “Where’s the Ezaran, Denassi?”

“Checking something out for me ma’am,” I said formally since she was calling me Lieutenant Hunter.

Kara stepped closer to me her voice dropping. “And how do you feel?” she asked me.

“Tired mostly,” which I was I was running on the dregs of adrenaline. I couldn’t really express how I felt but it was a close as I could get to an answer.

“I’ll check you out. The medics can deal with your team. You and I must go for a walk.” She reached up and took the barrette out on my hair and put it into her medical satchel. “We go to see Major Osward and on the way you will tell me everything?”

In the time it took us to reach the bunker I had told Kara everything I could think that seemed relevant. Having to pass through a few Confed guarded checkpoints. I guess that they were making sure the enemy had truly escaped.

“That explains much,” Kara commented. “And of course the Rhosani are involved.” She gave a sigh. “I’ll have to tell the Elders.”

We passed through another checkpoint and entered the bunker. I was surprised how busy it was. A number of Ezaran engineers in Confed jumpsuits were taking down what the Curator had called sentry guns from panels in the ceiling. The very same panels I’d spotted earlier. Short barrelled I could see from the muzzle width that would have decimated any attacking soldiers even with combat armour. I suppressed a shiver at the sight of them. Osward sat at the reception desk a number of soldiers including one with bulky comms gear surrounded him. He looked up as we approached. He was dressed in his uniform and looked out of place compared with his armoured retinue.

“This has certainly got more complicated than I’d ever imagined,” he stated his eyes looking straight at me his expression tight.

“How so?” I asked him automatically.

“The Rhosani. I was prepared to deal with dissident ATL groups but this put a new light on things. This is a conspiracy of galactic proportions.” He tapped a data pad under his fingers. “The data you obtained is eye opening.” Osward grimaced. “Pity he took the cowards way out.” He tapped the data pad again. “By the way thanks are in order.” He looked at me carefully.

“For what?” I asked.

“For being right about taking things cautiously. Those sentry guns would have ripped my assault teams to pieces.” Suddenly he looked distant. “Hyren Shai again. We couldn’t have brought in any heavy weapons to crack open this bunker.”

“Too many civilians close by,” I hazarded.

“Exactly. The Marines are trained in house to house we aren’t. Well not in the way they are.” He glanced at Kara. “I’m afraid this is where our co-operation ends. Thanks you for your help and input but I have my orders.”

“Whose orders?” Kara said an annoyed expression on her face.

“Admiral Katares and Admiral Komana. I’m sorry ma’am I can’t countermand it. It’s been an enlightening experience but I have my orders.”

“Of course we must obey the chain of command.” I heard the sarcasm in Kara’s words.

Osward visibly flinched. “We have the TCA to deal with these things now.” I saw him glance in my direction. “The TCA are sending a ship it will be a few weeks before it arrives. Then we can get the real work done.”

“And my team?” I had to ask the question.

“Are to be stood down. I’m sorry that came from Admiral Komana.”

“Permanently?” I felt a sick feeling in my belly.

“No, no not at all. Admiral Komana’s suggestion was for you and your team to take R and R until your next assignment.”

“When will that be?” I didn’t want to be stuck around here twiddling my thumbs and doing nothing. It didn’t sit well with me I wanted to get back on Vanessa’s trail and deal with her once and for all.

“I got the impression it would be a few months until the Valorous Star finishes it’s assignment and picks you up.”

The feeling sank lower. At this rate I’d never replace Vanessa. I’d never be free to lay Solstrid’s ghost to rest. The worst of it I’d be in Valkyrie hands never to leave again.

At that point I had to walk away as anger built up inside me. I found myself on the street peering past the cordon of Confed soldiers a confusion of thoughts running through my mind. Kara came and stood by me.

“I know you’re angry and frustrated,” she said calmly.

I turned to her anger flashing to despair. “And I suppose your idea is for me to go back to Alfheimir!” Bitterness coloured my words.

“That would not be wise in the present circumstances. Things are very volatile at the moment.”

“When are the Valkyrie not volatile?” I hadn’t meant to be sarcastic but I couldn’t stop myself.

“There is edgy and then there is volatile. The isolationists are pushing for, well as you would say isolation. I am beginning to think there’s something behind them. They’ve always been a noisy minority but lately they’ve become more aggressive. After replaceing out about the Rhosani I am beginning to think that it’s them. Who else gains from the instability it will cause.”

I shivered not from the cold. I remembered what the Curator had said and how he thought the Rhosani were involved. Too much chaos and with everyone fighting amongst themselves the Rhosani could walk back in and take over. As much as I wanted thwart their plans I was only one in billions. “You are certain?” I knew it was stupid question as soon as I said it.

“I am and so are the Elders.”

I considered this but it still wasn’t my problem despite the silver bracelet on my wrist. Runa had forced that upon me. Suddenly an idea flittered though my mind. “How long will it take me to get to Saros?”

“Why do you want to go to Saros?” Kara looked at me suspiciously

“I promised Monica and Alicia I’d get them somewhere safe.” That was a lie, well a half-truth. “I’ll take them to Ljufu she’ll replace a place for them to be safe.” That was definitely true. What I would really be doing was to pick up Vanessa’s trail. Kara didn’t need to know that. I wasn’t going to waste my time waiting around. I wasn’t sure about Jervic. As much as I wanted to wait until he got better. He had hurt me badly. Even though I had been relieved to see him doubts had entered my mind. I think time way would give me time to re-evaluate our relationship. The sex had been good but now I just wanted to put my nightmares to sleep. There were also a number of things I wanted to ask Mouse face to face. With that thought in mind I began to walk away.

“Wait!” Kara called out.

Ignored her and continued walking. I’d deal with her another day. Today was my day and for once I was making my own decisions. I heard her calling out to me as I turned the corner. She made no move to follow and I was satisfied with that. I would be the mistress of my destiny and that was that.

Continues in Valkyrie Hunter