Black Guard, The (18 page)

"My thoughts exactly. Basically, I’ve
kept your current New Keif team with the exception of the three newly promoted
sergeants, and the two senior sergeants, Solow and Wahle. That leaves you with
two lieutenants and two teams of nine each headed by a senior sergeant. I’ve
been told they are all back from their after-assignment leaves. You have today
to get organized. Shuttles will pick you up tomorrow." He laughed.
"At least this time you don’t have to worry about keeping the contracted
individuals alive. It’s not part of the contract, and I doubt she cares. They
just can’t escape or be rescued alive."

It was a warm sunny day, so I assembled my team on a grassy
area on the second plateau well away from the barracks and dining facilities.
The troops were dressed casually, and I had snacks and drinks prepared. Except for
the few details I had been given, there wasn’t much I could tell them about the
assignment. So, I spent the day walking around listening to tales of
sightseeing, visits with friends and family, and the latest hot new boy or girl
they had met. It felt like a family reunion. Rightfully so, since each of these
individuals had served with me before: six on all three of my assignments and
nine on two. It was a team any officer would be proud to lead—fourteen
had earned the double dragon award.

"Our shuttles will be here tomorrow at eight. Anyone
that’s going needs to be packed and there on time." I said, maintaining a
serious expression.

"I don’t know, Captain," Ceder said, also trying
to look serious. "Guarding prisoners does sound boring and more like
something meant for the army, not the Guard."

"Maybe Commander Wexler has decided to give us a
rest," Sergeant Nadel said.

"Or maybe he thinks we are worn out," Corporal
Toch said.

"Or, maybe the Priestess Kelebek has more money than
sense," Senior Sergeant Mintz said smiling.

"Or, we’re a status symbol for her," Sergeant
Haber said.

"Just in case it isn’t any of those, you might want to
make sure your weapons and body armor are in good condition," I said to
nodding heads.

* * *

Hada walked with me up the winding trail that led to the
shuttle landing pads at the top of the mountain. It was a cool morning, and the
wind had a bite to it. When we reached the top, two shuttles were just coming
in for a landing. My team was already there and shouldering their packs for
loading.

Hada gave me a tight hug. "It’s been wonderful seeing
you, Rivka. Next time we get together, I’d like to take you to meet my
family." Her eyes were moist as were mine.

"I’d like that, Hada," I said, giving her a kiss
on the cheek before turning and boarding the shuttle. She stayed, waving as the
shuttle climbed through the morning clouds.

Three hours later we were aboard the Crouching Tiger and
headed for the planet Faithful.

* * *

"You are the most talked about person in the Guard, Dragon
Sapir. You impressed a lot of senior Jax personnel—officer and enlisted—with
your performance at New Keif," Colonel Berger said as we sat having a
private lunch in his meeting room. Although his hair had streaks of grey about
his ears, he looked trim and judging by his ribbons had been in service for
over twenty years, been wounded, and well decorated.

"It was an unfortunate contract. They tied your hands
by restricting the type of weapons you could use in the building."

"That didn’t seem to bother you."

"We train to fight inside buildings. You don’t. And we
were lucky." I wanted to avoid a comparison of services, as it served no
purpose. We were all Jax.

"This assignment would seem to be something usually
assigned to a new army lieutenant, not the Guard and not you."

"I’m hoping it’s every bit as boring as it
sounds," I said and meant it. He snorted a laugh.

"Knowing Commander Wexler, I seriously doubt he would
send you and your highly decorated team anywhere a volcanic eruption wasn’t
expected imminently." He paused for a drink, and his expression turned
serious. "That’s the problem with getting a reputation as a problem
solver—you get all the nasty assignments."

"Isn’t that the definition of the Jax military?"
I asked. He laughed and slapped the table.

"Yes, it is. Why else would they pay us the big credits?"
He sat back smiling. "I like you, Sapir. I would imagine many who hear
about your assignments will think you blood thirsty, vicious, and uncaring
among other things, but I think you’re just the opposite and that dragon on
your collar agrees with me. Good hunting and safe return."

"Thank you, Colonel. Fair seas and calm winds."

* * *

Because there was no spaceport at Faithful, the Crouching
Tiger used its shuttles to transport us to the Suryah airport. The view from
orbit revealed a planet somewhat like old Earth—although a third smaller—with
three continents surrounded by lots of blue water. Jax also had a lot of water
but only one continent. When we landed, we were met by the Suryah Royal Guards,
which according to my assignment notes was the functional equivalent to the Jax
Guard. They stood at attention with red berets and hip-length jackets, white
slacks with a red strip down the leg, calf-length black boots, and rifles held
resting on their shoulders. A middle-aged man approached and saluted.

"Good day, Captain Sapir, and God’s blessing. I’m
Lieutenant Kattan, your escort. If you have no objections, I will have my
sergeant show your troops to their quarters while I take you to see our Supreme
Leader. She is most interested in meeting you."

"Good day, Lieutenant Kattan. I’d prefer to see our
quarters and the prisoners before I see your Supreme Leader. That way, I will
be better prepared to address any concerns she may have," I said. His
smile faded, and his eyes lost their focus for several seconds, then he nodded.

"One moment, Captain, let me check Imum Kelebek’s
schedule." He walked several meters away and talked into a small hand-held
device. He walked back smiling. "Yes, that will be acceptable. The Holy
One has agreed to see you later," he said, turning and waving. A minute
later four trucks and a limo could be seen approaching the landing pad. Several
individuals in combat camouflage clothing helped the Guard load their luggage
and equipment and get settled. The Lieutenant and I followed the trucks in the
limo.

"Tell me, Lieutenant, who normally guards
prisoners?" I asked, hoping the Lieutenant might provide an insight into
why the Black Guard had been hired that the Holy One might not share.

"Depends on the prisoners. The army watches over
military prisoners, the police over civilian offenders, and the Office of
Conduct over violators of the faith. The men you will be guarding are political
prisoners. They are accused of inciting the overthrow of our government,"
he said, giving the impression it had never happened before and required
special handling.
It will be interesting
to hear Kelebek’s explanation,
I thought
.
Kattan diverted any more questions by giving me a tour of the area. We had landed
at a secured Air Force facility which supported fighters and light cargo
planes. Some twenty kilometers after exiting the area, we skirted a medium-size
town around half a million. It looked to be an expanding rural environment with
most structures under five stories with lots of open land and no apparent
manufacturing facilities. Two hours later, we approached a large modern city of
at least several million, judging from the number of twenty-story plus
buildings. We entered the city across a suspension bridge over a large river.
Once over the bridge, we followed a highway which circled the city, then
crossed the river again on another similar bridge. Ten minutes later, we left
the main road and entered a gate guarded by men in grey clothing and Mfws slung
around their shoulders.

"The Holy One has allocated this compound, OCC-7, to
secure the political prisoners until such time as they can be tried by the
Suryah tribunal. It has a ten-foot fence with monitors, a barrack for your
troops, a dining hall, and a building with individual cells to hold the
prisoners."

"What was it used for in the past?"

"It was used by several groups over the years to house
prisoners of one sort or another. It’s very secure. To my knowledge, no one has
ever escaped from this facility." He smiled.
So why does the Holy One
need the Guard,
I wondered. I and the others were then given a grand tour.
First stop, the barracks where our baggage and equipment were unloaded. Then
the dining facility which I was told would have food delivered three times a
day: seven a.m., noon, and six p.m. Next the control building, a small
one-story building which held the electronic equipment that monitored the
fence, the compound, and the prison. And finally the prison, a one story
building inside an eight-foot fence. The building contained sixty standard jail
cells separated by a ten-meter hallway. Twenty of the cells were filled by men
in white shirts and pants. They did not appear to have been abused.

"I have been directed to turn this facility over to
you, Captain Sapir," Kattan said, smiling with what appeared relief.

"No, Lieutenant Kattan. Not until I have talked with
Imum Kelebek, and she understands what the Black Guard will and will not
do." I expected him to get back on the phone again, but instead, he walked
over to a senior sergeant who had met us at the gate. After a few minutes, he
waved me to the limo.

"Lieutenant Ceder, Elijah," I said loudly to get
their attention. They were quick to attend me. "I don’t know how long I’ll
be gone, but when I get back, I expect you will be ready to assume complete
control of this compound."

"Yes, sir," they responded in unison. Kattan
looked bewildered by their response, but recovered enough to open the door for
me. The ride into the city to a secluded area with manicured lawns took an
hour. The area included four well-spaced buildings: a long one-story barrack
and dining hall for the Royal Suryah Guard, a two-story administration building
for official business with the Holy One, a small one-story building for housekeeping
supplies and maintenance, and a one story mansion which was Imum Kebeke’s
residence. We passed two red-jacket guards in front of the administration
building and entered a large circular foyer. I followed Kattan to an elevator—which
we rode to the second floor—and down a long hallway to a room that looked
like an executive waiting room. There were several large stuffed chairs with a
small table next to each, a sideboard with an assortment of drink and snacks,
and the paneled walls were decorated with pictures of the cathedrals around
Suryah, each with a plaque giving its history.

"Imum Kebeke will be available shortly. Would you like
something to drink or eat while you wait?"

"No, I’m fine," I said, wondering if the delay
were to get even for my insistence in seeing the compound before our meeting or
if she really was busy. It didn’t matter except to understand our client. I
walked around the room reading the plaques and eventually to the large
bay-window, which looked to the rear of the building. From there, I could see
the Imum’s house off in the distance and guards in red patrolling the grounds.
Farther to the right was the one-story building dedicated to maintaining the
other two buildings. It was clear that must include the grounds, which were
meticulously maintained. I turned when I heard the door open.

"Captain, if you would follow me, the Holy One has
asked to see you," Kattan said, and I followed him down the stairs, through
the foyer, and to a door guarded by two royal guards. When they saw us, one
opened the door and went in. He returned shortly, holding the door open for us
to enter. Inside, an elderly woman in a plain white robe and with long flowing
grey hair sat lotus-style on a raised platform. Her angular face with its
hawk-like nose and penetrating eyes combined with her elevated perch to make an
impressive sight. A royal guard stood to each side of the platform and two more
inside the door. I stopped a few paces before the steps to the platform and
waited for introductions.

Kattan bowed low before speaking. "Imum Kelebek, Holy
One and Supreme Ruler of Suryah, may I introduce Captain Sapir of the Black
Guard."

"Welcome, Captain Sapir. It’s strange to see a woman
in charge of a military unit. I hope the Jax isn’t treating my contract as
unimportant." Her eyes narrowed as they watched me. I smiled.

"No less serious than the Suryah people take the
position of Supreme Leader," I said. She gave a soft laugh, and then her
face lost the smile.

"I’ve heard you refused to assume command of the
prisoner compound. Why?"

"I wanted to see the facilities so I’d be aware of any
potential concerns and could discuss them with you first."

"And do you?"

"Since you’ve hired the Jax to guard your prisoners, I
must assume they are important for one reason or another, and consequently, you
will have no problem with us killing anyone we think is attempting to free or
harm them. Is that correct?"

"Yes. They must be held accountable for their acts of
sedition."

"And if they attempt an escape?"

"I would prefer them alive to stand trial but dead
rather than free," she said.

"The only reasons I can envision for wanting a foreign
guard would be, one, because your guard is not adequate, or two, because you
believe it will deter your adversaries, or three, because our deaths may incite
the Jax to action."

"Yes." An amused smile appeared.

"You certainly know your Royal Guard and your
adversaries better than I do. But the last person who played games with the Jax
was decapitated and the rulers heavily fined."