The
War – Chapter 4
*~*~*
The resistance fighters who had managed
to escape the encroachments of the Taelons were gathering again, this time in
groups with very different goals. Some wanted to back up the Jaridians to
finally drive away the Taelons from Earth. Only a small group considered the
Jaridians as equally threatening as the Taelons. Liam now contacted this group.
From a variety of states he had convened
he leaders of liberation cells to discuss with them.
Liam briefed them shortly about what Da'an
and Lili had reported about the Jaridians.
"Did I get this right? There are members
of the Jaridian resistance aboard the Mothership?" Carillion wanted to know.
"That's right. Ter'kozz has helped Da'an
to escape. He is now in contact with Captain Marquette."
"Marquette? I thought she had been killed
during the attack on the Mothership a few weeks ago?" Martinez threw in. Sarah,
Beth and Rilei nodded in agreement.
"Uff, that's a long story. Agent
Sandoval, Zo'or's implant, had sent her to Jaridia. There she got in contact
with the local resistance."
"Can we trust this Terk... whatever, can
we really trust him?"
Shadow Walker wasn't sure of his ground.
"We can't be sure what game he plays.
After all, we know how much the Taelons and Jaridians hate each other."
"He has saved Da'an's life more than once
and mine, too. Lili trusts him, and I trust Lili." Liam threw a grave look at
the skeptic.
"He's right. If we don't take this chance
'cause we mistrust our allies we might have lost all we have."
Fear placed herself next to Liam.
"Who else is for trusting Terk… whatever
for now?"
Smiley and Dani stood up and went to her.
Morwen and Mirager exchanged doubting looks but then agreed, too. Shadow Walker
saw himself outvoted. „Okay, I'm in, too."
"That is decided, then."
"Where is Da'an now? If he ran away to
Earth he isn't safe in his embassy. And what is it with Da'an being involved
with the resistance?" Fear wanted to know.
"If he wasn't actively with the
resistance, he is now. He knew about some of our members and kept silence on
it. He's here at the headquarters at the moment." Liam explained.
"Besides we know of other Taelons who are
hiding on Earth. Here in North America it's only the Canadian Companion, Li'zel,
but in Europe there are more. Our people have contact to the French Companion,
Je'en, the Belgian, Ja'ain, the British Companion Qua'or, the Austrian, Tra'el
and the German, Ten'ra. Their respective implants are safe, too. I have
discovered some resistance members in Europe who agreed helping their Taelons.
The Companion Agents were not very pleased about it, but they had to admit that
if _they_ weren't able to find the resistance, the Jaridians won't either."
Lili and Da'an chose this moment to enter
the room. Da'an looked shaken, but he stopped and greeted the persons present
with the Taelon greeting.
With mixed emotions the resistance
members returned the gesture.
"Liam... Ter'kozz has reported again."
"What's wrong, Da'an?"
"Zo'or... He will be executed in about
six hours."
Silence spread out in the room.
"Uhm, Yippee ay aeh?" tried Mirager.
Lili shot him an angry look.
"Liam, we have to help him!"
"And how will we do that?
"Hey stop! Help him? He wanted to enslave
us and now we should rescue him?" Martinez looked unbelieving at Liam.
"He is my child..." Da'an whispered.
Liam didn't have to think for long. „I
will help you, Da'an."
Carillion looked around, then rose from
her seat. "I'm in. Who else?"
Fear looked admiringly at Liam. „Of
course I'm in, too."
Dani and Morwen agreed, too.
Martinez looked at the others, shaking
her head. "That's much too dangerous. I'm staying."
Sarah and Beth looked at Da'an, feeling
sorry for him. "It's really too risky. But if you need support down here we'll
help you. We know some computer specialists who may help you, too," said
Beth.
"Augur will thank you. I think."
Fear looked at Liam.
"What is your plan?"
*~*~*
"The shuttles are ready, Liam" Skrill
reported, one of the technicians, Beth had mentioned.
"Good. I'll call the European and
Canadian shuttle pilots then. I hope the diversion will be successful."
Liam opened his global for a collect
conference system.
"We have built a provisional cloaking
device. It will last long enough to fool the Jaridians. Are you all ready to
attack the mothership? France?
"Missy's ready!"
"Belgium?"
"Syd is ready for takeoff."
"England? Scotland?"
"Hecate, Raissa, Dreamer and Loui are
ready to go, Sir!"
"Ireland?"
"Dave is ready."
"Canada?"
"Tag and Sandoval are ready."
"Sandoval?!?"
"No relations, Sir!"
"Oh. I see. Then we have only Germany and
Austria missing."
"Foxfeather and Morrigan report all
systems ready, Liam."
"Then let's go."
Liam turned around to his shuttle. In
front of him stood Da'an.
"I will join you, Liam."
"No way! Da'an it's better if you stay
here. If one of the soldiers up there recognizes you, than Fa'loth will not
give up searching until he has found you. And you're still too weak now. The
saltwater has taken it out of you really hard."
Lili came running over to them.
"Da'an! Augur, David Cryzec and BoredTech
are searching for you. You should help them to crack the codes for the
monitoring devices aboard.
"You see, you're more helpful down here,
Da'an."
Crestfallen Da'an turned around to Liam
"You are right but I do not like it. Zo'or…"
For a brief moment he blushed blue.
"All will go well, Da'an"
*~*~*
Zo'or crouched down in his cell and
racked his brains how he could convince Fa'loth to keep him alive. He had some
offers taken to the general by his guards but without success. Slowly he felt
panic rising in his chest. He had to find a way to stay alive
Suddenly he heard orders being shouted
outside. The ship rocked hard. An attack?
"Get the Taelon out of here!" a voice
boomed outside of his cell.
"What do you have in mind with me?"
"Quiet!"
Ter'kozz threw a long look at Zo'or. Then
he turned around and gave more orders.
Two soldiers dragged Zo'or roughly out of
his cell and into the corridor. Zo'or tried to defend himself against their
grip. He feared to be marched to his execution. In the corridor in front of him
masked figures appeared and opened fire at his guards. Without hesitating they
grabbed him and lead him away. After some more corridors the met some other
masked people.
"Where is Sandoval?" one of them asked.
"I do not know..."
"Take him to the shuttle!"
*~*~*
Liam ran on through the corridors of the
ship, ever searching for his father. In the astern cellblock he finally
discovered some volunteers.
"Where is Sandoval?"
"No idea, Sir." Dru answered. She was one
of the volunteers Liam knew from bridge duty. Besides her Seven, Karone and
Leigh were gathered in the small cell.
"Many of us have tried to protect the
Taelons and were killed." Seven reported. "If Agent Sandoval was among them I
don't know."
"Liam's hopes vanished. Then he pulled
himself together.
"Come
on, we have to leave. The Jaridians have all hands full with chasing our
pilots, but I don't think we can detain them much longer. Soon they will notice
us. Our hackers down on Earth will have their difficulties to fool the ships
systems much longer."
"In the next room there are more
volunteers, Sir!"
"Get them and then go as quickly as
possible to the shuttle hangar. Do you know where the other Taelons are being
held captive?"
"Yes, near the bridge, but they're
severely guarded after Da'an's escape."
"To free them is too risky. We have to
leave them here. Now hurry!"
About five minutes later all were
gathered at the shuttles.
"Scatter on the shuttles and go down to
Earth. Try to hide the shuttles somewhere and report at the embassies in
Germany, France or the UK. Good luck!"
Liam looked desperately for Sandoval but
couldn't spot him among the humans who were now hurrying towards the shuttles
and starting to Earth.