Disclaimer- You all know it by now.

Loyalties of the Heart by Shelly

CHAPTER NINE


They reached the safety of the suite with no problem, enjoying an unexpected bout of lovemaking while they showered together. While she dressed, Karl contacted various officers to tell them that he was calling a meeting, choosing to inform Van, Fiona, and Thomas as well, although he requested their presence in his quarters as soon as possible.

The dining table had been cleared while they were outside and Karl decided to use it to spread out his various maps on while he awaited their arrival. Soon there was a knock on the door and the three stepped into the room, Van and Fiona wide awake while Thomas looked as if he had just crawled out of bed. Tania walked into the room carrying a coffee pot and a tray of cups with cream and sugar. "Would anybody like some?" she asked as she set first the pot and then the tray on the table.

Thomas immediately jumped on the offer while Fiona appeared to be looking for something. "What is it you need, Fiona?" Tania questioned, curious as to what it was.

"Where's the salt?"

Van and Thomas smiled at Tania and Karl's stunned faces, Tania going to fetch the salt as she muttered about why someone would put salt in their coffee, the very thought making her cringe. When she returned, she tried not to look as Fiona promptly emptied about a fourth of the salt shaker in her cup. A cup appeared in front of her, and she looked up to see Karl offering it to her. "Thank you," she replied, accepting his loving kiss as she guessed that he had told Thomas about them last night, although from the look that Thomas gave her it was apparent that he still didn't trust her.

"So what is this all about?" Van asked.

"I called you all here to help determine a method of shutting down those that have been attacking military bases. Tania has agreed to help us and I hope that we can use her information. Now all we need to know is the location."

Tania stepped up and gazed at the map for a moment as she found her bearings, eventually pointing at a mountain range about a day's travel from Red River. "It's there hidden underneath the mountain, a base that only Colonel Tragar knew about. It's fairly big with enough space to hold the base's zoids along with those taken from the first attack, barracks for the personnel, an armory where the weapons were stored, and a command center. Out here in front of the base are hidden missile launchers that are triggered unless the correct passcode is given. If not then you can pretty much say goodbye."

"Colonel Tragar," Karl said as he shook his head. "I would've never thought he would be capable of something like this."

Tania turned her attention towards him. "He loves the Empire very much and was very loyal to Prozen. After all this time he still holds enmity towards the Republic, although I am unsure as to how and why an Imperial base was established deep in Republican territory."

Van looked over the map himself. "What better way to attack the Republic than from within? What I want to know is what was he protecting that was so important that he set up a passcode and hidden defense measures?"

"You don't have any idea of what that might be, do you Tania?" Thomas asked.

She shook her head. "No, I don't. I was never interested in exploring the base and Tragar apparently thought it was something I didn't need to know about."

"Or you do know and just choose not to tell us so you can find out for yourself later after we give you your freedom in exchange for this information," he scoffed.

She rounded on Thomas, her anger flaring. "If you have something to say, say it, Thomas. I already know you don't trust me, and I don't even have to be helping you like this. But I'm doing this because I love your brother very much and because I have found fault in Tragar's views. He seeks to find a way to destroy the Republic so the Empire will have control over everything, and there's a chance that there may be someone out there that has the same ambitions that Prozen had and seeks to overthrow everything and claim himself the ruler. If we are to unravel this mystery then you will have to trust me."

"As do I," Van said as he laid his hand on her shoulder.

"And you know that I do," Karl added. "But I must warn you that Thomas' views may very well be shared by the other officers here, which will make my plan difficult to propose."

"Which is?" Van asked.

"Tania, you mentioned a passcode earlier. Is there any way you can give it to Van or Thomas so that they can use it?" Karl asked.

"The first one, yes, as it is numerical. But to get through the second, you will need to bring me along or cut off my hand as it requires my fingerprints which allow entry into the base. But I must warn you that you may not find anything there. Since their ambush didn't work, they might have abandoned it out of fear that I will give away its location."

A smile appeared on his face. "Since I do not wish to cut off your hand, I suppose you will have to go along with Van and Thomas, who will travel to the base and survey it for a day to determine if there is still any activity. If there is, you will radio back to Red River and we will send you backup to assist you. If not then you will proceed onto the base, obtain entry, and commence a thorough search for any evidence that might give us any clues as to what their plans are."

"Sounds good enough to me," Van agreed.

"I just hope that the others agree when we meet this afternoon. I thank you all for your time as well as your input," he added as a way of dismissing them. After they were gone, Tania dropped down into one of the chairs and laid her head on her arms that she crossed onto the table. "What is it, Tania?" he asked as he came close to her and massaged her neck.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," she muttered.

"Doing what?"

"This," she answered. "Betraying them when they gave me so much without me asking for it."

"And this requires you to still feel loyalty towards them when you know they are conceiving plans to destroy innocent lives that only want peace for the world?"

"I am well aware of what is going on, Karl," she shot back. "Still, Colonel Tragar is old enough to be my father, and he did treat me with kindness. Although when I think back, there were times when his behavior seemed strange whenever there were visitors and no one could seem to find him anywhere."

"What kind of visitors?" he asked.

"I don't know," she answered. "I never saw them, but I can tell you that they were important as he would be full of nerves for the first few days before their arrival. Apparently there might be someone who seeks to destroy not just the Republic but maybe the Empire as well."

"I hope not," he said then leaned down to lightly kiss the back of her neck, hearing her gasp as her head tilted further forward. "You know, I do have some spare time before the meeting," he breathed into her ear.

"Is that so?" she asked, all of her troubling thoughts being chased away on a wave of desire that swept through her, leaving her amazed that he could do this to her. "And what do you propose to do to pass the time?"

"Why don't I show you?" he asked, pulling her up out of the chair and lifting her off of her feet to carry her into the bedroom here he showed her just what he had in mind.



Soon it was time for the meeting, and Karl left her there in his suite as he thought it best if she didn't come. She was feeling languid after a particularly satisfying session of lovemaking, amazed once more at his strength and stamina that had exhausted her completely, leading her to take a nap to recover some of her energy. When she awoke, she saw Karl had returned and was sitting on the edge of the bed next to her, his head in his hands.

"Karl," she mumbled, her voice still thick from sleep. "What's wrong?"

He turned and laid down on the bed next to her, facing the ceiling. "That had to be the most exhausting meeting I've ever been to," he replied, and even his voice sounded tired.

She reached up with her hand and began massaging his forehead with her fingers as she knew that he must have a headache. "Did they approve your plan?"

"Tania, don't ever stop," he groaned. "That feels wonderful. Yes, they approved it but not without a fight. They had the same objections that Thomas had, and you can't just tell some of these people to be satisfied with just your word."

"When do we leave?" she asked.

"Tomorrow morning," he replied. "The first night will be spent just observing the base. If nothing happens then the next morning will have you moving in to investigate." He sighed deeply. "I wish you didn't have to go, but as you said there are passcodes to think about. I just want you to be careful as Van and Thomas have been given the authority to do whatever is in their means to see you remain a prisoner in my custody."

She leaned over to kiss him. "Karl, you know that I could never leave you, at least not willingly. Here is where I want to be, by your side and with you always."

He turned so that he could hold her more closely to him, although the nagging feeling within him that something would go wrong refused to go away.

Author's note- Uh-oh! Is there something going to happen on this mission? And will it end up breaking them apart? Please, don't say it's so, Shelly!