All That Glitters Ch 25
Vengeance!
A criminal is brought to justice.
This is a short chapter, clearing up a few things that were recently misunderstood...
© bigtddybr December 2020. This story "All That Glitters Ch 24', cannot be transferred to any other site besides Literotica.com without the prior authorizations in writing from the author and bigtddybr must be credited for this work.
Because of the number of abbreviations, ship listings, and list of characters, in this story, I include a glossary that is now in a stand-alone chapter called
'All That Glitters: Notes'
. Any and all information that you want or need to know about the series is included in Notes. It will be updated frequently, when significant changes are made to it, simply by re-issuing 'Notes' to Literotica.
There is little attempt to explain the back story, so it is necessary to read previous chapters to fully understand where we are.
As before, I claim sole responsibility for the story line. This story is a fantasy, with no basis in reality. Any similarity that you may perceive to current events, people, or situations real or imaginary is completely unintended. Look no further than the story line for its intent and purpose.
A big shout out to SaddleRidder for all the help she has provided in editing. With her guidance, I'm making fewer and fewer errors, but she still finds them. If you find any errors still left in this chapter, they are mine.
Please rate and comment. But keep your comments respectful. If you rant and rave or are disrespectful in your commentary, it will be deleted.
'Nuff said...enjoy.
The Valour, High Orbit, Planet Anuura, Caiden System, Fifty-Six Light Years from Terra
The Valour came into the system in high orbit and slowly made its way down to the planet. As she slipped down, she let two small objects out of her main hatch.
The objects were two pods heavily painted with absorption coating. The momentum of the Valour allowed the two pods to move down into the atmosphere on a trajectory that would eventually bring them over the Andanii District of the planet.
The Valour would also make its way to the Andanii District, later in the morning, being the obvious distraction that would help hide the two pods, which had now separated a considerable distance from the ship.
As the pods hit the atmosphere, they began to glow, much like meteorites would do. The two objects fell in trajectories that mimicked falling meteorites and exploded together high above the planet's surface, raining smaller pieces of debris in in all directions for planetary radar to follow.
Two people were ejected from the pods just before they exploded. They were wearing space jumper gear, which consisted of a specialized Jumper Suit heavily coated in absorption dye. The two opened their arms and legs and the excess material caught the thin atmosphere of the high altitudes, giving them limited control over their 'flight'.
They had only an hour to get to the surface before the arrival of the morning sun, so they folded their arms and dived down through the thickening air, occasionally opening their arms and legs to slow themselves down. Eventually, they made it down to a level that they could actually breath the air and they opened their oxygen masks for their first breath the planet's air.
At three thousand feet, they opened their chutes, well away from the compound they were aiming for. The chutes were highly aerodynamic and could fly to a limited extent. They directed themselves towards the roof of the compound they were attempting to get too, the dark of the moonless night hiding their flight down, both of Anuura's moons having set much earlier.
The two flared at the same time, quietly touching down and swiftly deflating their chutes. They swiftly bundled them and disposed of them behind a convenient piece of discarded wood, temporarily hiding them.
It would be light soon, and they wanted to be in position before the Valour touched down.
Raymond and Kin Oshiiru had set down deliberately on this particular part of the temple grounds. The temple was a massive affair, spread over several kilometers and many buildings. Fayad had told them this rooftop would be one of the few that would not be locked from below. They would be free to enter the temple itself once the left the roof.
Raymond checked the door and found it unlocked, in fact, it did not have any locking mechanism on it. He slipped quietly into the building moving silently down the stone steps. Good that they were stone, as that would reduce the chance of squeaking as they moved along the steps.
The pair moved as swiftly as they could, checking each corridor they came to. They had the map Fayad had provided guiding them as they descended. Fayad had said that they would have to find a temple worker to gain information as to where precisely that Henadi would be, as there would be several places she could be kept but he was also sure that she would be somewhere near the Labyrinth as that was where executions were normally held.
Grand Temple of Andanii, Aereet City, Planet Anuura, Caiden System
Wassim Andjuran had risen, washed carefully and dressed in the finest silks of the Chief Cleric. Today would be the day that he would rid himself of one of the thorns in his side, one of those who had broken his connection to the pirate syndicates. Fiona Marsh was still out there, but she would pay all too soon, he was sure.
He stepped forth into the temple proper and went down to the labyrinth under the grand vestibule, where his 'guests' were being temporarily housed.
Henadi Noor lay on her stomach, her back now swathed in treated bandages, working to alleviate the pain and the suffering she had endured under the scourging. She was awake.
"Ah, I see you are aware of what is happening to you, apostate, Fullohd," Andjuran snarled. Henadi looked at him with the same glare of hatred she had bestowed upon him during the scourging. Momentarily, he lost his nerve, but only for the moment.
"No need to reply," he laughed, the gag still in her mouth. "Today is the last day of your life. You will be brought before the council and deemed criminal apostate and executed. There is no hope for you, bitch. The council are formed from my faithful and will follow whatever I tell them to do. They will condemn you and I will see you executed this day!
"I will have my revenge on you for what you and Fiona Marsh have done to me. You have cost me a fortune in revenues and you will pay with your life, bitch!" Andjuran laughed at the woman before him. She was helpless, she was naked, she was broken, and soon she would be dead.
"Chief Cleric," a voice called out.
"In here, Najmaddin," Andjuran called out. His loyal henchman entered the room looking worried. A frisson of fear went up Andjuran's spine when he saw Anduura looking so agitated.
"What is it Najmaddin?" asked Andjuran, his demeanor suddenly cooled.
"The Valour has landed at the local shuttle port with Commodore Marsh and a warrant from the Senate for your arrest," Anduura reported. "They are headed here on foot. It will take them a few minutes to get here."
Anger flooded the face of Andjuran.
NO!!
Andjuran screamed in his mind.
How could this be? They cannot stop him now when he was so close!
"Is the council here?" he demanded of his henchman.
"Yes, Chief Cleric," Anduura reported.
"Good, take her, bring her before the council. We will complete this execution immediately, before Marsh can interfere!" Wassim reached out and slapped Henadi on the back, bringing a hiss of pain and anger from her.
"Make sure that gag never leaves her mouth, Anduura. I will ask you to wheel the Sacred Sword and take the head of this bitch for me!" Andjuran hissed at his man.
Anduura smiled viciously at Henadi. He was looking forward to taking the life of this woman who had violated the dictates of the Chief Cleric on the subservience of women to the men folk of the Church of Andanii, who stood up to the Chief Cleric by leaving Anuura and making not just any career by the career of a decorated Navy Officer, an example to the woman of the church that neither Andjuran nor Anduura wanted to see women following. He would enjoy taking this woman's life. This woman who had help stop the second attack on Liramor-23 and broken the faith of the pirate syndicates with his boss.
Courtyard of the Grand Temple of Andanii, Aereet City
The rescue group arrived in the courtyard to find many people milling about. The people looked on the outsiders suspiciously. Fiona's group were all armed with legal stun weapons, which the people eyed warily.
Fiona was aware that clannish people tended to back their own over outsiders regardless of what their own had done. She didn't need to fight her way through this crowd and she didn't want to have to explain again and again what her purpose was. They needed to act with as little time lost as possible. She was sure that when Andjuran heard of her approach, he would seek to escape. She put Fayad in the lead, but C. Supt. Burhan pushed him back.
Burhan marched to the end of the courtyard and the steps leading up into the Grand Temple when they were blocked by the people around them.
"What do you wish here, defiler?" asked one of those who stood in their way, Fiona getting the gist of the conversation from the translation app on her comp.
"We have come seeking one Senator Wassim Andjuran, with a warrant for his arrest," Burhan replied
"What has he done that warrants his arrest" the spokesperson asked.
"He is accused of forsaking his duties as a Senator and stealing funds from a Senate committee. As well, he is charged with kidnapping a citizen of the Terran Union and Captain in the Terran Navy, Henadi Noor," Burhan told the man.