Gateway 11 - Warning Delova

Gateway 11 -- Warning Delova

Green Dragon

's arrival in the Delovan capital went as planned. On the stroke of noon, Larsen brought the flitter down through the light cloud cover and did a slow, vertical descent straight into the main square. Busy when they first appeared, the square emptied as terrified Delovans fled the scene, and when the flitter touched down the square was empty.

Within moments of touch-down, Callaghan had formed his squad into a loose square about the flitter. They stood easy, combat rifles cradled at a high port, set to stun. Janizi and Callaghan waited at the prow, patient, Tima and Veln chatted idly with Sally Ewen. They'd brought eight other troopers with them, and three of those knew the language, apart from Janizi, Larsen and Perrault. Having had the situation explained to them, neither PFC Lee, from the linguistics team, nor her sister, Corporal Lee, from the xeno-liaison team, had hesitated in volunteering to be included. They were, after all, combat-trained, even if their experience wasn't recent. Along with Anne Jenner, that covered three sides of the square. Janizi and Tima made the square up.

They waited, patient. It wasn't long. About ten minutes after they'd landed, two soldiers in Delovan uniforms approached.

"What is the meaning of this intrusion?" said one, apparently an officer, his tone a mixture of bluster and fear. Janizi held up her hand in the universal 'halt' gesture, and the officer faltered.

"What did he say?" she said to Tima.

Fighting a grin, Tima duly translated. Janizi nodded, and turned to the officer.

"You are sheltering our enemies. Surrender them, and we leave," said Janizi.

Larsen's comm beeped. Jenner's private channel.

"Lieutenant? I think the silent one is one of the Tolians, from last night."

"Thanks, Anne. I'll pass the word." She keyed Janizi's comm. "Captain? The quiet one is one of last night's Tolians, Anne thinks."

"Thanks, Karen. I thought he was familiar."

Tima had been translating the Captain's demand, and the Delovan officer shook his head in denial.

"We shelter no one. Our guests are welcome!"

Translation took but moments. Janizi's reply was blunt.

"Your 'guests' are Tolian. The Tolian Dominion were at war with us,

but have now surrendered to the Federation. Any Tolians you are sheltering are to be treated as Federation prisoners of war. We do not want conflict, but we will not hesitate in seeking out our enemies."

The Tolian leaned across and whispered in the officer's ear. Watching from the command position, Larsen had no doubt that Janizi's words had surprised him. The officer spoke again.

"These - Tolians? What makes you think there are any here?"

Janizi smiled at Tima's translation, and answered in one word.

"Magic." She keyed her comm. "Karen? What range have you managed with your crystal? Remind me."

"About a kilometer, Captain," said Larsen, trying not to laugh at the expression on the Delovan officer's face.

"What weight can you handle at that range?"

"About ten kilos."

"Stand by, and be ready to lift the Tolian's sword out of his scabbard and put it in my hand. I think we need to make a point."

The Delovan officer and the Tolian had been having an animated discussion just out of earshot, and the officer now turned to Janizi.

"Magic? Do you think we are children, to believe in such nonsense?"

Janizi waited until Tima finished her translation, fixing the officer with her gaze. Larsen couldn't see her face, but she knew Janizi was smiling. Larsen keyed her comm.

"Captain? When you're ready, just raise your free hand and snap your fingers, then hold your hand open. The sword might be travelling a little quickly when it reaches you, okay?"

"Thanks, Larsen. Will do."

The animated discussion between the Tolian and the Delovan officer ended, and the officer stepped forward.

"There are no Tolians here, and magic does not exist."

As soon as Tima finished translating, Janizi raised her hand and snapped her fingers. Concentrating hard, clutching the crystal in her hand, Larsen murmured to herself and the sword in the Tolian's scabbard slid smoothly out and slapped into Janizi's hand. The Tolian, a protest on his lips moved forward and found the point of his own sword at his throat.

"Kneel, and surrender," said Janizi, in passable Tolian. Eyes wide open in shock, the Tolian did so.

"What is the meaning of this?" said the officer, his voice thick with anger. Tima began to translate, but Janizi stopped her.

"Callaghan? Put this Tolian under lock and key and post a guard." Not waiting to see whether Callaghan obeyed, Janizi stepped forward and faced the officer.

"This Tolian is now my prisoner," she said, Tima translating rapidly. "You will surrender any further Tolians here, or we will come looking for them. If they are not surrendered within the hour, consider yourselves at war with the United Federation of Planets. Now, go!"

His face white with shock, the officer stumbled away, breaking into a trot as he left the square.

"Can you do that?" said Tima. "Declare war on Delova?"

Janizi grinned. "No, but

he

doesn't know that. To be honest, a state of war already exists between the Federation and the Tolian Dominion.

And

their allies," she added. "Okay, they've surrendered, but the formalities are still ongoing. All I'm doing is extrapolating a little."

Tima smiled. "Remind me never to play - what is it? Poker? The card game? - against you."

Janizi laughed. "I'm a pussycat compared to Larsen. Aren't I, Lieutenant?"

"I play to win, Captain," said Larsen, fighting a grin.

It was over an hour, but only by ten minutes or so, when a procession approached the squad around

Green Dragon

. Led by a tall figure in elegant robes, they came to a ragged stop as Janizi signaled 'halt'.

"You are the leader of these - invaders?" said the leader, his voice trembling in rage.

Janizi eyed him calmly as Tima translated, then nodded. "I am."

The leader didn't need Tima to translate the simple affirmative, but launched into a tirade against Janizi and her invaders and all those who associated with them. Larsen couldn't see Janizi's face, but she knew it would be calm, expressionless. Eventually, the leader stopped, face still red with anger. There was silence.

There was something about the group of people that didn't seem right to Larsen, but she was unable to pinpoint anything. She turned to Perrault.

"Corporal?"

"Ma'am?"

"How fine a cone can you set the detector to?"

"What range? To that Delovan party?"

"Got it in one. That one in the second row, on the end, left. Something doesn't add up."

"At that range, down to about three or four centimetres."

"Give him a scan, then."

"Scanning now... oh, that's not good! Ma'am, he has a thermite bomb!"

"Where?"

"Um, behind him a little. His right, just back from where he has his hand on his belt."

Larsen grinned. "Time for some more magic." She keyed her com-unit to Janizi's channel. "Captain? Second row, left, on the end? He has a thermite bomb."

"Does he now? Can you take it off him, Larsen?"

"I think so, yes. Where do you want it?"

"Can you make it hover?"

"Um, I think so, yes."

"In that case, put it two feet in front of this blustering fool's nose, and we'll see what happens."

Larsen grinned. "Aye, ma'am!"

The hover wobbled a bit at first, but the sick look of recognition on the Delovan's face told a story. As too did the confusion on the face of the individual who had been carrying the bomb. Not to mention the frantic search of his clothing and equipment.

"Your bomb, I believe?" said Janizi, and Tima hurriedly translated. "Not a very friendly gesture, was it?"

"I do not know what you are talking about."

"I think you do. And so does he," said Janizi, pointing at the one who had

carried the bomb, that individual trying to hide behind his compatriots.

"What were you planning to do? Throw it among my troops? The first one to die would be you."

While Tima was translating, Janizi opened her channel to Larsen. "Lieutenant? Would you ask Corporal Perrault to ready the tracking beam on the needle cannon. When I signal, switch it on, and line it up on this guy's heart. Okay?"

"Certainly, ma'am. Your signal?"

"Left arm up, snap my fingers."

"Got it, ma'am." Larsen turned to Perrault. "Corporal? Activate the tracking beam on the needle cannon, but keep it switched out for the moment. Aim it at blusterman's heart, okay?"

"Needle cannon tracking beam, align on the Delovan speaker's heart, but beam switched off? Affirmative, ma'am."

"Watch for the captain's signal. Left arm up, and a finger snap, at which

point switch the beam on."

"Aye, ma'am." A brief pause. "Ready."

Tima had finished her translation, and the Delovan sneered.

"Your weapons are not even pointed at me."

"No?" said Janizi, reaching up and snapping the fingers of her left hand. "Look at your chest."

The Delovan looked down, seeing the pinpoint of red light on his chest. "And this is supposed to scare me?"

"It should, because that is the sighting beam for a cannon, a single shot from which wouldn't leave enough of you to bury."

There was silence for a long moment after Tima finished her translation, until the Delovan sighed.

"Do you know who I am?"

Tima translated, and added, in a low tone for Janizi. "He's the first minister for the ruler here. Name of Anrar."

Janizi nodded, but to the Delovan said, "No, I do not know who you are, but nor do I care. You are sheltering Tolians, and the United Federation Planets are at war with the Tolians. Surrender them, and we will leave you in peace. We have no quarrel with the Delovan people, only with the Tolians.

"We promised the Tolians a place among us, safe from harm. You would have us break our word?" The bluster was gone, and there was a plea in the minister's voice.

There was silence for a long moment, before Janizi spoke.

"What do you offer?"

"I will take this situation back to Lord Brius. He is young, impetuous, and rather too full of himself, to be candid. He thinks he is invincible, with the help of the Tolians. I do not relish informing him of the reality."

"You are candid, Minister Anrar."

"I thought you did not know my name?" There was definite humour in the minister's voice, Larsen thought, now that the false bluster had gone.

Janizi shrugged. "It seemed expedient. And what will you tell Lord Brius?"

"That you offer us a brutal reappraisal of reality, and he would be advised to discuss it with you."

"Please do. Before you go, Minister?"

"Yes?"

"How many Tolians here?"

Larsen could hear the black humour in the minister's voice. "Including the one you have in captivity, nineteen. I think it was their weapons that persuaded Lord Brius. That your weapons and numbers are superior may persuade him otherwise. May I ask, how many are you?"

"On this planet? Only seventeen. In orbit around the planet? Nearly three thousand, of which twelve hundred are trained fighting soldiers, such as you see here. And sufficient missiles to totally destroy the planet, or selective enough to destroy Delova without harming adjacent lands."

"Such as Prince Alnar's?"

"Indeed so. Prince Alnar was good enough to supply us with interpreters so that we could talk to you."

The minister sighed. "I shall report to Lord Brius. Might I suggest midday tomorrow for a meeting? Here? And your demand? The surrender of the Tolians?"

"It would be better if you told your Tolian guests this. That the Tolian forces have surrendered unconditionally to the United Planets Federation. But tell them this, as well. There has been a coup d'etat, and the Tolian government they knew is no more."

"I shall so inform him. And the Tolians. Before I go - how much of what you said was bluff?"

"None, minister. Absolutely none."

The minister nodded, and signalled to his companions, and the official party

withdrew.

"Larsen?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"What situation do we have around us? I heard a couple of raised voices behind us."

"Some of the locals started insulting our female troops."

"And?"

"And nothing at the moment, ma'am, but there are still some idiots out there."

"Patch me through to Jenner. Solo link, but listen in, and comment as necessary."

"Aye, ma'am. Link done, you're through."

"Jenner? This is Janizi."

"Aye, ma'am?"

"I believe you're getting some insults back there?"

"Yes, ma'am. A couple of our friends from last night, I think they recognized me."

"Two of them?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Can you take them both by yourself? No weapons?"

"Yes, ma'am! Take me about twenty seconds."

"Captain?" said Larsen.

"Yes, Lieutenant?"

"Make that fifteen seconds."

Janizi laughed. "Thanks, Larsen. Jenner? You have my permission to take those two on, provided they are searched for concealed weapons."

"Thank you, ma'am. Um, may I reveal my knowledge of the language?"

"They already know, remember? You insulted them last night!"

"Ah, yes. Thank you, ma'am. I'll report back shortly."

"Larsen?"

"Ma'am?"

"Video, please. I want to see this, later."

"Yes, ma'am! Corporal? You heard the captain!"

Studying the video later, with Janizi, in the comfort of their quarters in Prince Alnar's palace, they both agreed that Anne Jenner's estimate of the time it would take was very conservative. Anne had challenged the two Delovans to, effectively, 'put up or shut up.' They had blustered, but mocked by their own people for their hesitation, they had agreed, on condition that everyone was naked, so that no one could conceal weapons. Jenner had stripped immediately, waiting, calm, ignoring the comments from the increasing Delovan bystanders.

Her two challengers were not so quick, but they had to do something or lose significant face, and soon they, too, were naked, spreading well apart and then approaching Jenner from opposite sides.

Larsen's estimate of fifteen seconds was gravely in error. A mere eight seconds after the first Delovan touched Anne Jenner, they were both unconscious, and Anne had barely raised a sweat. The Delovan watchers were silent as Anne dressed, and when she turned, giving them an ironic bow, the spontaneous applause surprised everyone.

"You know, Nikki, Anne seems to have generated us some goodwill with the Delovans. Those two fools that challenged her don't seem to have been very popular."

"Local bully boys?"

Larsen nodded. "That seems to be what they are. When Anne accepted their challenge immediately, I think they thought they might back out of it, but the locals needled them into it. I think that when Anne gave them such a quick exit, and then bowed to the locals, they were showing genuine appreciation. I get the definite impression that the people here would be friendly, given half a chance."

Janizi nodded. "You could be right. Hmm, are any of Prince Alnar's people still here?"

"I'll find out. Gimme a minute." She was back almost immediately with Tima.

"You wanted to see me, Captain Janizi?"

"Yes. I wanted to pick your brains."

Tima grinned. "About what?"

"The Delovans, or more specifically, your relationship with them. Before Lord Brius took over there, how did the two states get along?"

"Very well. Very well indeed. Brius' uncle was a good man, keen to cooperate in any area that secured mutual benefit. Brius? Well, Brius seems only to want to accumulate wealth and power. He cares little about his people."

"What about Minister Anrar?"

"He was minister to Brius's uncle before he died. I think he has stayed in post in an attempt to ameliorate Brius's excesses."

Janizi smiled. "I got the distinct impression that he relished his task of informing Brius that his Tolian technology had just been trumped."

Tima frowned. "Trumped?"

"Ah. A card game term. It means that a player has lost to a superior hand."

"I see. Your Federation technology is superior to the Tolian?"

Larsen grinned. "On an equal footing, probably no. But according to Minister Anrar there are only nineteen Tolians here. Okay, there are only seventeen of us on your planet, but there are over three thousand more up there," she said, pointing to the sky.

Tima laughed. "I am so pleased we are friends." She stood. "If you will excuse me? I need to see Hroth, reassure him that he hasn't been forgotten."

* * * * *

Again at midday, Larsen brought

Green Dragon

down vertically into the main square. Again, Janizi deployed her small force as a perimeter. Unlike the previous day, no-one had fled as the flitter descended, but the Delovans cleared the square, watching from the edges. Another difference, this time, a group of Delovans was clearly waiting for them, and Larsen recognized Minister Anrar, standing at the shoulder of a gaudily dressed younger man, his expression set in a petulant frown. Larsen guessed this was Brius, a guess confirmed as Anrar stepped forward to greet Janizi. Scanning the rest of the group, Larsen was almost certain she recognized Tolian uniforms on several men who stood at the side. Surprised, she couldn't see any weapons. She turned to Perrault, like herself an interested observer.

"Corporal?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"See that group of Tolians standing to the side?"

"Yes, ma'am. What of them?"

"Can you scan them for weapons, please?"

"Aye, lieutenant, scanning now," a pause, then, "no guns, ma'am, if that's what you were after."

"It was, thank you." Larsen opened Janizi's channel. "Captain, that group of Tolians are unarmed. It would appear that Brius's people have probably got their weapons."

"And probably plan to use them on us. Warn the rest of the troopers, please."

"Will do, ma'am." She opened the main link. "Careful, everyone. The Tolians you can see have been disarmed. The Delovans have probably got their weapons and may be planning to use them on us."

"Acknowledged, lieutenant." Callaghan's tone was even, unruffled, but she knew the sergeant was ready.

Janizi was addressing the Delovans, who had approached, the flitter.

"Minister Anrar, good to see you again," she said, addressing the party in their own language.

Obvious surprise in his expression, Anrar gestured vaguely. "I thought you did not know our language."

Larsen couldn't see Janizi's face but she knew the captain would be smiling. "I'm a fast learner."

Brius stepped forward, reaching into his robes. "Then you willl understand me when I say, die, invader!" he screamed, bringing out a handgun and pointing it at Janizi, his finger on the trigger, a triumphant expression on his face as he pulled it, an expression which disappeared when the gun failed to fire.

Larsen was aware of several Delovans in Brius' party bringing out concealed Tolian weapons, fumbling, unfamiliar with the weapons, and falling, stunned, as the navy troopers reacted according to their training, quickly and accurately. Whether a stray shot or not, she neither knew nor cared, but Brius too fell unconscious at Janizi's feet.

Janizi had her own sidearm out, ready, but her attention was on Anrar who stood, immobile, shock on his face.

"I knew nothing of Brius's intentions, Captain, believe me."

"I do, minister, I do. Yes, what is it?" she added, turning to one of the Tolians who had approached.

"Lieutenant Zakon, fourth Tolian infantry, Captain. I understand from Minister Anrar that Tolia has surrendered to the Federation, and that we few here are now prisoners of war. Is that so?"

"I'm afraid it is, lieutenant. Did Minister Anrar also tell you that there has been a coup d'etat and that the government you knew is no more?"

"He did. Do you know who governs now?"

"Chancellor Helran and his party."

Zakon nodded. "That is good news indeed. In that case, Captain, I formally surrender myself and the rest of my party into your custody. I am glad to be out from under Brius's eye, the man was insane."