A Matter of Honor (Privateer Tales Book 9) (9 page)

***

Eliora sat nervously at the table next to Captain Gian. She'd been promoted to third rank among the protectors. It was a hollow promotion, coming at the loss of her friend and mentor, Pele. She'd never been invited to attend a council meeting and Gian warned her that this wouldn't be a good one. The Yishuv settlement had taken many setbacks in the last several tendays, wiping out decades of progress. Worse, one of two remaining blaster rifles had been lost and the settlement was down to a single turret that had to be moved between the gates.

"This meeting is called to order, so say I, Chairwoman Peraf." Grandly, the elderly woman set a golden stand on the table that prominently displayed a beautifully cut crystal. It was a ritual they repeated at every council meeting, the meaning of the gesture long since lost.

"Master Merik, I understand you have an update on the repair of the damaged turret," Councilman Bedros said.

Merik stood. "I do, honorable councilman, and it isn't favorable. We lack the necessary parts to repair the damage and our maker-machine is incapable of manufacturing the correct elements. In short, we can only use it as spare parts for our remaining gun."

"You are certain these elements cannot be manufactured on Ophir?"

"I am. The blasters rely on materials readily available in the time of our founders, but they were manufactured in mechanized plants in orbit around the planet that precisely controlled their synthesis. In short, we simply lack the capability to reproduce such an environment."

"I see. There is a rumor afoot that your apprentice wishes to address this council. Do you know what this is about?"

"I do, Councilman Bedros, but in following the council's wishes, she has respectfully prepared a demonstration after today's meeting. I would prefer that she be given the ability to present it fully without my preempting," Merik said. "Of course, I leave this at your discretion."

"I understand she has manufactured a new type of weapon," Bedros said.

"Yes, that is a partial outcome of her work," Merik answered.

"Captain Gian. What know you of this?" Bedros asked. "I assume after your grand failures of the last few tendays you would be most interested in learning about this new weaponry."

"Councilman Bedros, I respectfully ask that you follow our agenda. One of the things that separates us from the Ophie is our ability to reason." Peraf corrected.

"My apologies, Councilwoman Peraf, I believe that I have finished my questions for the Master Engineer. Are there more questions or may I move on to Captain Gian?"

As there were no questions, Peraf excused Merik and turned to Captain Gian and Eliora. "My dear Captain Gian, never before has so much been asked of so few protectors. You have lost more than even the farmers. The bravery of your men and women honors us all. There are, however, those within the council who believe that too many mistakes have been made and as a result your efficacy as leader has come under question. What say you?"

Captain Gian stood and walked out from behind his table to address the council, a group of middle-aged to elderly men and women.

"Councilwoman Peraf, thank you for your recognition. It truly has been a trying time. After an unprecedented period of peace, we once again enter a season of danger. Our settlement has lost five percent of its population, and no one in this room has been spared the pain of that loss. Indeed my protectors have been cut down enough that we are no longer able to adequately protect this settlement," Gian said.

A collective gasp was heard among the full-to-standing-room-only gallery that was listening to the long meeting.

"You're saying that being understaffed caused the Ophie to gain control of one of our last two blasters?" Bedros asked, enraged.

"Councilman," Peraf snapped, banging a wooden hammer on the table in front of her.

"I'd like to answer the question, Councilwoman," Gian answered.

"Very well," Peraf said. "But I warn you, Councilman. I'll sooner close this meeting than allow your continued outbursts."

"Pele made a judgement call that was his to make," Gian said calmly. "In combat, we constantly make decisions and when you make the wrong decision, people die. Pele acted bravely and showed great composure during an inordinately stressful situation. I'll not sully his name by second-guessing him now. The loss of the blaster was tragic and if it is the council's decision to relieve me of duty, I accept this." He gave a small bow.

"I don't believe we're asking you to resign, Captain Gian," Peraf said wearily. "We feel that more care should be taken with our remaining weapons and should have been taken with the lost rifle."

"There was no way for Pele to know that the Ophie would take the weapon. They've never shown the slightest interest in our technology. Even more strangely, there were sixteen Ophie that attacked us. They always attack in pods of five and never retreat. Something changed. We're seeing new behavior and I believe we should be prepared for a longer season of war," Gian said.

"That's ridiculous. For three centuries the Ophies have attacked with a single large force and then they leave us alone for at least twenty stans. Everyone knows that," Bedros said with disdain.

"And yet, they attacked with hundreds three tendays ago and sixteen last tenday."

"That's not unprecedented. Our founders wrote about fighting Ophie in those numbers," Bedros said.

"Councilman, I agree with part of that. We were fortunate they didn't attack with a larger force three tendays past, or none of us would be standing here to discuss it. I believe we're seeing the introduction of a second tribe of Ophies. The markings on their arms and thighs were different," Gian said.

"That may well be, but it doesn't excuse your abysmal failures."

"On this we agree, Councilman. I stand humbly before you, acknowledging those failures."

"Oh pish-posh, we are all to blame," Peraf said. "If our weapons were in better order, if we'd adopted the early warning signals recommended by our engineer, if… if… if wishes were kisses and all that. Gentlemen, stiffen your spines. If we are to win this war, then we need to treat it as such and stop this petty bickering." She looked straight at Gian. "Tell me, Captain, what do you need that is within the capability of this council to grant?"

"If we are to survive the war I fear is coming, we must arm our population. We are soft and must become hard. We must treat the Ophie as our enemy, not as wild animals to be avoided. Finally, we cannot hope to protect eight hundred people with twenty protectors," he said.

"Tell me exactly what you are asking for," Peraf demanded.

"Every man, woman and child of Yishuv should receive weapons training. Further, all men and women between the ages of sixteen and forty should spend five days of every third tenday in training or on patrol. Our core of protectors must grow to fifty."

"You've lost your mind, Gian. We'd get nothing done if we lost that much productivity to your war," Bedros said.

"I want to learn how to fight." A woman's voice was heard from the gallery.

"Me too," another voice said. The gallery of spectators broke into unruly agreement.

"Order… Order..." Peraf yelled and banged her hammer onto the table over and over again until the room quieted. "It would appear your idea resonates with the populace. The council will take your request under consideration. As this was the last matter for the day, we will adjourn," Peraf said. "Clear the hall so we may hear the petition of our Master Engineer's apprentice, Merrie."

Merrie and Amon pulled a heavy handcart into the room and offloaded their long weapons, still covered with oil-cloth, onto the table.

"Are you ready?" Merik asked Merrie. "And what's that smell? It's horrible."

"I'm sorry," she said with a smile. "You'll see soon enough. Have you seen Eliora?"

"She was in the hall with Captain Gian. I assume he's also been invited to your demonstration," Merik said.

"He has. Hopefully she's filling him in on his part in the demonstration," Merrie said.

"You've got him working too? This should be interesting. I don't want to make you nervous, but he just had a hard meeting," Merik said.

"I hope to change that," Merrie replied.

Merik smiled at his apprentice and almost resisted the desire to ruffle her long brown hair. "Don't ever lose that, Merrie."

"Stop," Merrie pushed his hand off of her head. "Lose what?"

"Optimism."

"I'm optimistic that if you keep mussing up my hair, I'm going to break your fingers. How's that?" she asked, smiling.

"Are you ready?" Bedros asked, taking his seat at the table.

"We're just waiting for Eliora and Captain Gian. I'll go find them," Merrie said.

"What is that horrid smell?" Bedros asked.

"Part of the demonstration. My apologies, but it's really the only way." Merrie hurried out of the room only to return a moment later with Eliora in tow and Captain Gian following behind.

"The council will come to order," Peraf said as the six of them sat in their chairs. "Merrie, dear, please, what is that smell?"

"We'll get to that soon," Merrie said patiently. "But first, I need to give you some background. There are two facets of this presentation that we're interested in. In short, I'm asking for a tenday of maker-machine time."

"Ridiculous," Bedros said, earning him a glare from Peraf, but nothing else.

Merrie bowed slightly. "That's what Merik said you'd say. He told me I'd need to prove to you why I need it."

"And this smelly package will prove it to us? Is it air freshener?" Bedros asked.

"That's funny," she said. "But no. I need the time to construct an arc-furnace to smelt steel. We have all the electricity we could possibly desire with our solar panels, but what I don't have are the reactor pieces to really get things rolling in the furnace. It's all very technical."

"I'm confused, how will you demonstrate steel?" Bedros asked.

"Just a moment and I think you'll see. Captain Gian, why is it your protectors don't carry the iron short swords that the smithery made decades ago?"

"The Ophie's arm length is such that their clubs reach us before we can strike them with the Gladius style blade."

"Why not just get a longer iron blade?"

"There are none strong enough to wield such a blade. Not only that, but iron is not rigid enough nor does it hold an edge," Gian answered.

"When faced with a similar problem, our ancient ancestors solved this problem by inventing steel," Merrie said. "Fortunately, we don't have to invent anything. We simply need to learn from them. Captain Gian, I present to you a European longsword. Crafted by none other than our very own apprentice smith, Amon."

Merrie pulled a polished, meter long blade from beneath the cloth and handed it to a surprised Captain Gian.

"What does this weigh?" Gian asked.

"One point three kilograms, give or take," Merrie said.

Gian gracefully swooshed the blade through the air, feeling its balance, with a look of wonder on his face. "It's so light. Surely it is brittle."

"Captain, I apologize for this next piece, but how could I prove to you that you could use this in combat?"

"Apologize, why? But, I'd need to use it against an Ophie," he said and then looked to the cart that had several large lumps laying on it. "You didn't…?"

Merrie placed fingers onto her nose and walked to the cart. "Amon, if you'd help me with this."

Amon lifted one side as she lifted the other and they exposed the torso of a melting Ophie warrior.

"You're insane," Bedros said, lifting a handkerchief to his nose.

"Be quiet," Gian snapped. "Is that frozen?"

"It was, but I've been thawing it to give us a realistic simulation. I'm worried it's still too frozen," Merrie said. "Would you demonstrate the blade on this corpse?"

Captain Gian wasted no time and charged in with an overhead strike, the long blade burying itself several centimeters into the thickly armored chest.

"I don't believe I penetrated to vital organs," he said.

"I don't think so either, but the long sword was made for parrying, cutting and piercing. Could you try piercing the chest?"

"Eliora, please strap it to that post, please," Gian asked.

If Eliora found the task to be gruesome, she didn't let on. She rolled the cart next to the post he'd indicated and lashed it in place with a strap.

Gian thrust the long sword in next to his initial gash and with some effort buried the tip until it poked out the back of the beast.

"That's it!" he cried in triumph.

"Captain, if you don't mind, just leave that there, we have more to demonstrate. I'm afraid Amon was in more of a hurry with our second weapon and it isn't as polished, but I believe you'll find it every bit as interesting. Amon, would you hold up our second corpse?"

"Your theatrics are a bit much," Peraf said. "This has gone too far."

"Honorable council members, please see this through. It is certainly gruesome, but these apprentices may have just saved our settlement," Gian said. "To win the war I fear is to come, we must engage in a few distasteful activities."