Authors: Annabel Wolfe
responsibility, he was uninterested in finding out if any of the escaped
men could pilot one. Minoa had forwarded dossiers on all the
prisoners, but there hadn’t been time to do more than glance over the
information. Unfortunately the common theme among the
characteristics of the subjects of the files seemed to be a tendency
toward ruthless violence, usually unprovoked.
He
was about to provoke them in a big way.
“Let’s remember they’ve had plenty of time to take uniforms from
the crew members. We’re going to assume everyone is the enemy
until positive identification can be made. If fired upon, fire back at
will. Let’s proceed.”
“Yes, Commander.”
The terminal was as dark as the rest of the city, a long, sleek
building that towered above them by hundreds of feet. Because Anaya
Two wasn’t industrial, the facilities were small by most standards, but
still big enough to house a full-sized shipping vessel like the
Serpentine.
They’d barely gotten around the edge on the approach when a
volley of flashing light erupted. It wasn’t a surprise—Kel knew they
were in for a battle—but as they all scrambled to get back behind the
corner of the building, he still uttered an very un-regulation word.
He’d been able to bring down fifty men with him. There were
very close to the same number of convicts and over eighty crew
members from the stolen ship. The odds would be in his favor if any
of the crew were in a position to help, but—a very large question
mark—who knew if any of the Serpentine’s personnel were still alive,
or if so, capable of assistance.
There was also the other factor of trying to infiltrate a defended
position. Every military officer knew that basic rule. The aggressor
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was at a disadvantage. Breaching the wall was the same difficulty
now as it had been back in ancient Earth history. He’d studied the
exploits of ancient generals and kings like Hannibal and Alexander,
not to mention Napoleon Bonaparte and his nemesis Lord Wellington
with interest. Without tracking devices and special communications
and computer intelligence, they’d pitted wits against each other and
won great victories.
It fascinated him, he had to admit, and with all the power shut off
on Anaya Two, he wasn’t all that far from those primitive conditions.
Their handheld trackers had a limited range and he’d just sent his
transports off planet on standby. To keep intercepts at a minimum he
had told Naiad to just monitor signals. Since he had no intention of
putting more of his crew in danger by sending a distress message if
things went wrong, Kel hoped his next communication with his
second in command would be from on board the Serpentine,
announcing they’d been successful and were in control.
Easier said than done.
It was a relief to know Peyton was under disciplinary action and
confined to his quarters. Even if the transports weren’t waiting on
surface, just touching down to allow the rescue parties to disembark
was dangerous. She’d have requested the duty too, he knew her, and
not just her luscious body and innate sensuality either, but her
determination and independent spirit. Besides, Jake was right, of
course, she was probably the best pilot on the ship.
Life mate. He wished Jake had never said it for it was constantly
in the back of his mind now and he needed to concentrate on other
things at the moment, like staying alive.
Other than the sullen light of a distant moon through Anaya Two’s
constant cloud cover, there was literally no illumination. The main
entrance to the terminal was not an option, but he hadn’t expected to
just stroll through it anyway.
“They can’t be organized, sir.” Grand’s face was barely visible
where they both pressed against a wall. The men did the same, silent,
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motionless, well-trained. “It’s got to be every man for himself in
there.”
“They have a mutual vested interest in escape, Major, so let’s
keep that I mind. I think you’re right, but there has to be some
leadership to get them to successfully overpower the guards, take the
ship, and dock it here for fuel and supplies. We have a couple of
options. There’s a service tunnel our opponents may or may not know
exists. I have reservations about it because it’s damned easy to get
trapped, but the airlock system is the other choice and it’s about the
same. I have the security codes for both. We’ll split into three parties.
One group will stay here and keep any of their satellite groups from
going back in, one will go in the tunnel, and one will try the airlocks.”
Grand nodded and hesitated before asking, “Pardon me,
Commander, but if we had the other two options, why did we try the
main door? Why not just sneak in and surprise them?”
A breeze drifted by, whispering past the deserted buildings. Kel
said, “Because right now they know we’re here. They are going to be
strung up, ready to attack us, knowing we’re out here waiting to try
again. The attempt was a diversion to focus all their attention right
here. I’m just counting on them not knowing it.” He smiled grimly.
“Are you a fan of history, Major?”
Grand looked perplexed, the obscure light giving his features
shadows and sharp planes. “Sir?”
“Divide and conquer.” Kel pointed toward where the vague
outline of a utility ladder rose in skeleton steps toward the main roof
area. “I’ll take fifteen men and go that way. Only use your
communication device if you have to contact me. I’ll be in touch
when we get inside so we can coordinate our offensive.”
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Chapter 9
“Just for a moment,” Will repeated patiently. “Colonel Naiad will
want to see me.”
The young officer obviously knew Will’s identity for something
flickered in his eyes. “My orders are to only to allow in specified
staff.”
“My father was governor of the colony where the escaped
prisoners were incarcerated. I was the exchequer for the prison system
itself on Epsilon. Don’t you think I might have something to offer?”
It was a bluff. Will didn’t, not really. Oh, none of what he’d just
said wasn’t true, but as far as helpful information on a rescue mission
on an unknown planet was concerned, Will doubted he could be truly
of assistance just because he approved the budget for the high profile
institution.
But for the sake of Tara’s younger sister he was willing to pretend
he did. Part of it was chivalry because he was one of those males who
ridiculously wanted to help any female in distress, even one was
obviously capable as Peyton Valmont. There was also the factor that
she’d saved his life—no one would deny that.
Tara, too, was a variable in the equation. His feelings toward her
were involved—more than involved from all the signs—and if it
would ease her sister’s mind to know what was going on at the
surface level of Anaya Two, he’d do his best.
“I suppose you can go in, sir.” The guard stepped back and
allowed the scan to flash. The door lifted. “If the colonel doesn’t want
you in there, he’ll say so.”
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From his previous experience with Naiad, the sergeant was
probably right. Will walked in, saw that the colonel paid little
attention to him but was instead riveted on a wall of monitors and
waited. It took a few moments but Naiad turned and flicked him a
brief glance. “I can’t believe you got her to stay behind. Either you
are very persuasive or obviously Peyton isn’t completely willing to
toss aside her career.”
“Yet,” Will said, encouraged by the lack of outright dismissal.
“She’s pretty anxious to find out what is going on.”
“Since she checked herself into sickbay, I’m going to guess you’re
right.” The colonel looked him in the eye. “I’m sympathetic to her
concerns, believe me. Can you actually help with this situation with
the prisoners?”
“In a general way only.” Will felt with Naiad being honest was
probably best, and the man seemed to understand why he was there
anyway. “I know what my father told me. I also have been on Anaya
Two before, when Epsilon negotiated to buy agricultural products in
bulk with their government.” He smiled briefly. “They always invite
the person who handles the compensation part of the deal. Funny
thing, isn’t it? I’ve seen the terminal anyway.”
“We have a blueprint.”
“Not the same as firsthand, is it? The Serpentine, too, is part of
our commercial fleet. I know nothing about military ships like this
one, but shipping vessels were something I dealt with often.”
“Their contents is not the same thing as how to run them.”
“True,” Will admitted. “But who knows what might help.”
“Well, you’re better than what else I have, so sit down.”
At least he wasn’t being tossed right out. Will took the offered
chair, which he suspected Naiad sat in himself when Gallico was at
the command center and used the chair the colonel currently
occupied. The other person present was a young female who barely
spared him a quick glance before riveting her attention again on a
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series of controls. Her fingers were constantly busy on one keyboard
or another.
“They’re here.” Naiad pointed at a flashing on one screen. “And
here. And here. The commander has chosen to go in at two different
points. It looks to me like he’s left a small force to keep firing at the
main portal. Otherwise, other than using life form scans, from this
distance, we can’t tell what’s happening. Our sensors are hampered
by the heavy cloud cover that is a constant on Anaya Two. There’s no
way to even distinguish between the convicts and our own forces. I
can only tell where we are because I watched Gallico and his team
land and go in. When things start to happen, it will be impossible to
discern friend or enemy.”
“The muggy, warm atmosphere grows nice crops,” Will
commented with a wry smile. “And yes, I know that doesn’t help at
all, Colonel, but keep in mind because Anaya Two is such a peaceful
agricultural society, nothing is laid out in a fashion to address defense.
That,” Will added, “is a good thing. The prisoners don’t have
anyplace to—”
“Colonel Naiad,” the female officer interrupted tersely, “we’re
getting a distress message.”
“From the commander?”
“No. From one of the bunkers, sir.”
Naiad surged to his feet, his good-looking face tight. “That’s not
supposed to be possible. They are sealed and secure, Captain
Ammati.”
“That may be, sir, but I have a beacon. It looks like the door shield
was lifted a few minutes ago.”
It was Will who said quietly, “The people of Anaya Two are
pacifists. If the convicts could use the central communication system,
they might have told those colonists anything.”
“Which is why every colony needs a military presence,” Jake
Naiad muttered darkly, bending to stare at the monitor. “Who the hell
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would open that fucking door? We’ve got enough hostages with the
crew of the ship to worry about.”
“Shall I respond?” The female captain sat, her hands poised.
Naiad gave a curt nod of assent. “The commander wanted the
communication grid quiet so the prisoners couldn’t ascertain our
surface movements, but I think in this case I don’t have a lot of
choice, do I?”
On one the screens the image of a young woman appeared.
“Commander?”
“Colonel.” Naiad corrected.
“My name is Betina Tosse and I am the assistant to the colony
commissioner. Sir, we have a problem in Bunker 15 and we are
evacuating back into the city. Any suggestions for a safe place would
be welcome.”
“What kind of problem?”
“The respiration filtration system has failed. People started feeling
ill before we realized the blowers had shut down.” She paused. In the
background, Will realized with a jolt, there were children crying. “I
realize the colony is under lock down but we haven’t been informed
as to why. Information would be welcome at this point. We’ve opened
the hatch for ventilation. There was no choice. Is it still dangerous
outside?”
“There’s a small band of life forms close to the bunker.” Captain
Ammati informed Naiad quietly. “The surveillance grid keeps
flickering in and out. I’ve no idea how many, but all our men are in
front of, or inside, the main terminal. Those are convicts, Colonel.”
“It’s dangerous as hell outside, Ms. Tosse.” Naiad rubbed his jaw,
his eyes narrowed. “How many colonists are there?”
“Thirty-one.’ Betina’s face wavered as the signal dropped, the
message choppy. “…enough air…distress…twenty females and
eleven children.”
Will felt himself pale. Naiad said harshly. “No males?”
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The screen cleared and her image solidified again, which was a
relief, but her answer wasn’t. “No. The bunkers are designed gender