Gateway 10 - Scouting Delova

Gateway 10 -- Kesrin: Scouting Delova

There were eight of them around the conference table. Prince Alnar, Captain Lehman, Mage Sanzar and Tima, for the Prince's side. Nicola Janizi, Karen Larsen, Mike Callaghan and Jan Arnold, for

Green Dragon

. Before them, on the table, were copies of images that

Green Dragon

had recorded while night-flying in stealth mode over the neighboring, hostile, principality the previous night.

Alnar pointed to a point on the image, effectively an aerial map.

"Here, or at least last time I visited, there is a guard barracks. Perhaps twenty men. Across the street, a temple devoted to Assina, their goddess of war. The portal is here, about a hundred paces away. Normally, at night, there is no one around, but it is impossible to be certain."

"There is a way to tell, My Lord," said Janizi, "but it requires

Green Dragon

to be flying relatively low, and possibly visible. We were in cloud cover when we recorded these images, but

Andromeda

tells me the forecast is for a clear night."

Alnar smiled ruefully. "Would that we had such forecasts available to us always."

"It could be so in the future, My Lord."

"Indeed, but it is with tonight that we concern ourselves. How long is needed to record the key of the portal?"

"Seconds only. The recorder makes a virtually instant record."

"So, if the way is clear, it would be a case of reach the portal, record the key, and straight back again?"

"That is so."

"Very well. How close can we get?"

"Larsen?" Janizi gestured to her pilot.

"I could land

Green Dragon

a mere handspan away from the portal, but if anyone is around, then they will know that there is an alien presence on the planet. We know we are welcome in your lands, My Lord, but we do not know if that welcome exists elsewhere." Larsen shrugged. "Under the circumstances, I think that this clearing in the woods, here, about three klicks from the portal, and with no habitation anywhere near, is the optimum."

"I agree," said Janizi. "From there, a small party, on foot."

"How many?" said Alnar.

"I think only three or four, My Lord. But first, a question. Who among the population is likely to be abroad at such an hour? Remember, the moon sets an hour after midnight, and dawn is at six, so we have only about four hours."

"I think I can answer that," said Captain Lemahn. "I was in that part quite recently, disguised as a carpet peddler." He smiled, without humour. "To be blunt, troublemakers and whores. The law-abiding folk will be tucked up in their beds, with the shutters closed and the doors bolted."

"If the four were two men, and two women, and the women looked and acted like whores, would they escape notice?"

"Most likely not, but no-one is likely to challenge them, although there would be some insults flying around."

"What do these whores wear?"

Lehman grimaced. "Almost nothing. A cloak at night, for warmth. Sandals. Apart from that, jewels and perfume. Strong perfume."

"Could be tricky. One of the whores would have to be me, I think. Karen, you can't go, you need to stay with the flitter. Pity, as we work well together. Who would you recommend, of the female personnel?"

Larsen didn't hesitate. "Anne Jenner, but be aware, Captain, that Anne takes after me. She likes to know."

"So I should explain the situation to her?"

"Yes, and ask her opinion, too. Anne is a shrewd cookie." Larsen grinned. "And a very dirty bare-handed fighter as well."

"Captain Lemahn, if Anne and I play the whore for the evening, who goes with us?"

"Myself, I think. I would suggest Sergeant Callaghan, but his command of our language is as yet but little, as Hroth cannot bespeak him mind to mind. I think we need someone who speaks the language, in case it becomes necessary to talk."

Janizi nodded. "I think the captain is right, but who? We agreed to keep this private as well as we are able, so for the moment only those at this table have full knowledge of the matter."

"Then it must be me," said Alnar. He held up his hand to forestall the protests. "I do not plan to take any more risks than the rest of you, but I cannot stand back and let you risk your lives while I sit idly by and weave baskets."

"You are determined on this?" said Janizi. "Yes? Very well. Myself and Anne, as ladies of the night. Captain Lemahn and Prince Alnar as our consorts, customers, or whatever your local term is." She looked around. "Questions? Yes, Mage Sanzar?"

"I believe I can devise a charm that will deflect interest from you, at least for a while. It will not be effective against directed questioning, such as may come from a guard, but it will deflect the idle questioner."

"The charm? How big?"

"Of a size to wear as an ornament, perhaps on a cord about your neck."

"Excellent. Now, these whores' cloaks. Anything special or different about them?"

"Only the colour. Always red. Apart from that, just a cloak," said Lehman. "I'll arrange for two to be brought aboard your flitter."

"Could concealed pockets be included, to take a weapon?"

"Yes, easily, but a weapon of what kind?" said Lehman. "We do not want to take the risk of your technology being discovered."

Janizi's smile was cold. "Just a knife, and a cord."

Captain Lehman's answering smile was genuine. "Captain Janizi? When this is over, would you allow me to discuss, perhaps demonstrate, share, hand-to-hand fighting methods? It would be interesting to see both similarities and differences between our peoples."

"Captain Lehman, it will be a pleasure. Now, if you'll excuse me, I want to have a word with Anne Jenner about this little excursion tonight." Janizi stood, bowed to Prince Alnar, and went out.

Larsen found herself intercepted by Sanzar. "Have you had a chance to work with the crystal?"

"Not a lot," said Larsen. "But was this the sort of thing you meant?" Sanzar raised his brows in query and Larsen nodded behind him. Sanzar turned, and then turned back to her, his face creased in a broad smile.

"You are doing that?"

She grinned. "I think so."

The table they had all been sitting at bore the remains of the snacks they had consumed as they talked. Plates and cups, some utensils. All of these items were now hovering in mid-air, whirling gently around in a slow domestic whirlpool. Prince Alnar grinned at Larsen.

"You have been here scarcely a handful of days, Karen Larsen, and already you do what took me near ten months to master."

"Beginner's luck, My Lord."

"I doubt that. I think your magic is strong."

"We shall see, My Lord. After this little trip tonight, perhaps."

"Indeed. Might I suggest that you get some rest. I think we need our pilot alert and ready."

"Then if you will excuse me, My Lord?"

Alnar gestured assent, and Larsen left, heading for the guest suite where the

Andromeda

personnel were quartered. Anne Jenner and Nicola Janizi sat in a quiet corner of the lounge area, heads close together. Janizi caught sight of Larsen and signaled her across. Anne Jenner grinned up at her as she went across.

"Never played a whore before, Lieutenant. Guess there's a first time for everything."

"You'll be a natural, Anne," said Larsen, straight-faced, laughing as Jenner tried to decide whether Larsen was acting friend or officer. Janizi grinned.

"Stop teasing her, Karen."

"Just kidding, Anne. Honest. I'll be thinking of you while I'm stuck with the flitter."

"If the shit hits the fan, Karen, I want you coming for us fully armed and ready, and to hell with technology suppression!" said Janizi.

"Yes, ma'am," said Larsen, saluting.

"Oh, sit down, relax. Or do you want to catch a nap?"

"Don't think I could. I'd rather just sit here and relax."

"Who's on this jaunt tonight?" said Jenner.

"Larsen and Perrault, flitter crew. You and me, Captain Lehman and Prince Alnar as the ground team. Callaghan and Arnold, backup and defence."

"Sounds good," said Jenner. "If you'll excuse me, ma'am, I think I might actually be beating Corporal Perrault at chess. Of course, it might just be my imagination."

"Get yourself away, and good luck."

* * * * *

It was as the moon settled behind the mountains that Larsen lifted

Green Dragon

from the secluded courtyard behind Prince Alnar's palace. All navigation lights were switched off, and the flight deck was in almost total darkness, the instrumentation dimmed. At her console, Perrault had pulled out the shroud and all Larsen could see was a faint glow. She was wearing a night vision headset and as the flitter lifted she switched it on, blinking as she accustomed herself to the bright green images.

A stir behind her signalled Janizi's arrival from the bay.

"Everything in the green, Larsen?"

"Affirmative ma'am." She laughed. "Especially with the headset switched on!"

"I'll bet! Clear on the route?"

"Yes, no problems with that. Through the river gorge. Captain Lehman says the noise of the river will conceal any noise we might make, so we just have to hope no-one is there. We'll just be a black shape at night, could even be a dracon as far as they're concerned. Once through the gorge, stick close to the ridge and put down into the clearing we decided on. Then, I chew my nails."

"Very slight change of plan. Captain Lehman turns out to be handy with needle and thread. A consequence of serving in the field, which I think we both understand. Anyway, Anne and I both have one of the mini-comm units sewn into the collars of our cloaks. As we're going to be naked apart from cloak and sandals, it does reassure me to know I can yell for help."

"That's good, because it means I don't have to wait and have someone let me know things have gone wrong. You yell, I fly! Homers active?"

"Definitely. You'll know exactly where we are. Or rather, you'll know where our cloaks are, which I sincerely trust will be the same place."

"Yes, indeed! Now, ma'am, if you'll excuse my attention drifting away, a little bit of tricky flying coming up."

The gorge was rugged, uneven, the stream jinking about as it flowed from the mountains. Larsen kept the flitter down to about the speed of a galloping horse, concentrating carefully, taking no chances. The gorge behind them, she followed the ridge until the woodland showed, and a few minutes later carefully dropped into the clearing they had chosen.

Janizi had been sitting quietly in the co-pilot seat, and she now stood. "Nice flying, Karen. Time for me to go and put my whore's outfit on." She grinned. "And that won't take long." She gestured. "Comms test as soon as I have my cloak on."

Ten minutes later, comms tests successful, Larsen watched as two uncouth soldiers and their ladies of the night disappeared into the darkness. A few minutes later, a beep on her headset signalled a transmission.

"Janizi to flitter. Just leaving the trees now. The track is about a hundred paces ahead."

Silence for a while, then again a beep. "Just passing the first houses. No one in sigh - oops, spoke too soon." There was a muffled altercation, dimly heard through the comms unit, until Janizi came back on, laughing.

"A couple of locals wanted a share of the available pussy. I'm going to list Jenner for a commendation, although I'm damned if I know how I'll word it. She just looked the two locals up and down, flipped open her cloak and flashed them, said, 'is there a man among you?' Then Captain Lehman draws his sword and steps in front of her. 'And that man better be a big one, because I've paid her for the night, and you'll have to go through me to get her.' They didn't actually run away, but it was close."

A long pause, then, "we're at the portal. Anne and I are making like silly cows, and Captain Lehman and the prince are leaning on each other, laughing. There are a couple of guards, but they're staying clear, just watching. Right, I think the captain has done the scan. Handy, having a concealed scanner that works through clothing. We're on our way back now. Janizi out, unless there's trouble."

Silence for a few minutes, then Anne Jenner's voice came, tense, muted. For a moment Larsen wondered whether Jenner was rambling, then realised she'd triggered transmit, to put Larsen in the picture.

"... no sir, these gentlemen paid us for the whole night." A laugh. "I'm a whore, sir. When I'm paid, I perform, and the only thing I have to call my own is my word. I told this gentleman I was his for the night, and unless he surrenders his right, then that stands... tomorrow, sir? Tomorrow is different. Tomorrow I can be yours. Tonight, I am his... you don't want to wait? I'm sorry... " Jenner broke off, and Larsen was aware of scuffling, yells, and then Janizi's voice was in her ears, and she wasn't speaking the local language, but Standard. Urgent Standard.

"Larsen? We've got trouble, big trouble. There are Tolians here, and that means technology. Come and get us, and don't hang about!"

"On our way, Captain. Perrault, fire up your weapons comm, they're in trouble." She keyed the comm switch to the troop bay. "Callaghan? Arnold? Captain's in trouble, and we're going to fetch her. I'm dropping the ramp, so don't fall out, but be ready to fight!"

"Yes, ma'am." Callaghan's voice was calm, but she'd been in combat situations with the big sergeant, and she knew the calm concealed a fighter, one she'd trust at her back in almost any situation -- and had, several times. Even as she spoke her hands were busy with the controls and before she'd finished speaking the flitter had cleared the clearing and was heading towards the portal. She switched on the powerful landing lights as the flitter closed on the portal and suddenly the scene was stark before them. Lehman and Alnar, disarmed, held by four men, armed. Anne Jenner had lost her cloak and was struggling with a fifth man while Janizi was struggling in the grip of two others, her cloak almost ripped off her.

As the light hit them, the figures froze. Jenner and Janizi were the first to react and Larsen found a moment to admire the supple grace of the captain as she enveloped the head of one assailant with her cloak even as she delivered a flying kick to the other's throat. She landed free, and whirled, a naked amazon ready to fight. Jenner seemed to have delivered a head butt as her assailant was reeling backwards with a bloody nose.

The next thirty seconds were chaos as Larsen put the flitter down almost on top of the fracas. Callaghan and Arnold were out in seconds and Larsen took a moment to realise that they were using stunners, rendering the enemy guards unconscious, but otherwise uninjured, and moments later Callaghan was on the comm, yelling for her to go.

She lifted straight up, lights dimmed again, then wheeled and dived for the tree-line, closing the ramp as she went. Safely in the gorge, she took a deep breath.

"Everything okay back there, Callaghan?" she said, using his private channel.

"I think so. Captain Lehman has a flesh wound. Arnold's treating it now. The Captain will be with you in a moment, she's just dressing." Callaghan's voice lowered. "Impressive, Lieutenant. Even naked she carries authority."

"Behave yourself, Callaghan," said Larsen, hearing Callaghan's chuckle over the comm, even as Janizi came onto the flight deck, still buttoning her shirt. She dropped into the co-pilot's seat.

"Thanks, Karen, that was a damned quick response."

"Are we informal, ma'am?"

"Yes, Karen, we are."

"Nikki, what in hell's name happened out there?"

"They came out of nowhere, and before we knew what was happening they had the Captain and Prince Alnar. Oh, they fought, but there were too many of the bastards. I think the others we chased off going in had gone and reported us, because they weren't surprised. They had ripped Anne's cloak off before she had a chance to hang onto it." A chuckle. "Magnificent body that girl has. She played the whore superbly, all ready to negotiate for later, but they weren't waiting for that. They wanted us now. Not sure what we would have done, but two of them, they didn't seem quite sure of their uniforms and weapons, and, well, they started speaking Tolian. I knew then that our technology wasn't going to surprise them, so I asked for help and next thing I knew Callaghan and Arnold had everyone down. How in hell's name did you get them out so fast?"

Larsen grinned. "I landed with the ramp down and with Callaghan and Arnold hanging out, ready to go. I think they jumped before I was even down."

"Good thinking with the landing light, by the way, no-one could see a damned thing." She turned. "Corporal Perrault?"

"Ma'am?"

"Please tell me you had your console on the 'record' setting?"

"Affirmative, ma'am."

"Well done. I want to study that, later."

"Aye, ma'am. Captain?"

"Yes?"

"Shall I copy it to your command console aft?"

"Good thinking. Please, yes. Do that."

"It will be ready for you when you get back, ma'am."

"Thank you, corporal."

"Captain? Did Jenner's cloak get left behind?"

"Yes, it did. Why do you ask?"

"Our friends are having an argument, and the comm unit in the cloak is picking it up."

"Is it, now? Can you put it on speaker, corporal?"

"Aye, ma'am. On now. It's a little distorted as I've got the gain on maximum, but I think you'll be able to make it out. I'm recording, of course, and it may be possible to clean it up, later."

"Excellent." Janizi and Larsen listened closely, the voices on the comm distorted, but as far as they could tell, the men they'd stunned were of two distinct opinions. The local four were arguing for magic, while the two Tolians were of a different mind.

"Those uniforms we saw were Federation Navy, I'm certain of it," one voice said.

"Then where did they come from?"

"Damned if I know, but we need to report this."

"Rather you than me, but you're right."

"Come on, let's get it over with."

The two Tolian voices faded, and there was a pause, until another voice, a local voice, spoke clearly.

"Nice cloak this, pity it's a whore's cloak. Mmm, smell it!" A laugh. "Which one would you choose? The redhead, or the dark-haired one?"

"Why choose? Have them both!"

"By myself? I'd lose my balls! Did you see the way they fought? They weren't ordinary whores, that's for sure. That dark-haired bitch broke Arno's nose."

"Score one for Anne," said Janizi with a grin. She sobered. "You were right about Anne as a fighter, Karen. That is one tough she-kitty, and I'm certainly glad she's one of us!" Janizi sighed. "Okay, Karen, take us back. I need to report back to the

Andy

. Upstairs needs to know about the Tolians."

"Perhaps the local ones don't know that there was a surrender."

"Good point, but not our problem. I suspect that the next time we go in there we go in officially, looking for enemy nationals. We'll see then what Prince Alnar's neighbour's reaction is."

It was midday next day before there were any orders from the

Andromeda

. Typical of Colonel Sadler, they were to the point.

'Captain Janizi and her team are hereby authorized to make contact with the officials of Delova. They are authorised to enquire about the presence of Tolian personnel and if present, to take them prisoner, pending transfer to

Andromeda

. They are further authorized to resist any attempt to interfere with this due process.'

Janizi gave Larsen a wry grin. "One thing about Sadler. He trusts us."

"Not a lot of choice, this time, I reckon. They're up there and we're down here, with local knowledge. He has to trust us."

"Guess we'd better see Prince Alnar."

Alnar was in his study, with Jayan's deputy. He smiled to see Janizi and Larsen, and gave some rapid instructions to the official, who hurried out, intent on what he was doing.

"My friends. What can I do for you, save thank you yet again for rescuing my poor self last night?"