"I want those grounds secured and I want a detachment of the Elite to search the sub-levels for Crichton and the others!" order Rygel the sixteenth.
"My Lord?" asked Rygel's head of security. "How do you know they headed into the sub-levels?"
"BECAUSE...." Rygel said exasperated, "That's what I would have done. You don't live with somebody for all those cycles and not know how they think."
"Of course, Dominar. Right away," the man said as he snapped off a salute.
"And bring me any Nebari you capture alive... or even dead for that matter. A corpse will be just as good as a living prisoner to confront the Ambassador with," Rygel added.
"At once, My Lord!" said the Sebacean as he left the throne room.
"And you better pray to the Goddess, Lerris... that nothing has happened to any of them... or there will be a second war in the Territories before this weeken is out," vowed the Hynerian ruler to himself.
The operation wasn't going quite according to plan thought Captain Stoma. Their element of surprise was lost to them before they even gained access to the apartment level of the Palace. Somehow the people inside were warned and had laid an ambush for him and his men. The huge snarling dark shape in the common room firefight could only have been the full-blooded Luxan. The second smaller figure had to be one of the Sebaceans though he didn't know which one. Whoever it was, they were very agile and well trained to have appeared amidst his men like that without warning. Probably an ex-Peacekeeper he thought. He had lost a third of his advance team just crossing the common room and taking the stairway. Another eight men that were sent to try and secure the east stairway were most likely dead in that explosion. Not wanting to lose any more troops, he called for a withdrawal back down the stairway in case they lobbed another bomb down. Taking the time to revise his plan to account for the new situation he decided there was still time to trap his quarry before help from the Hynerian forces could organize and arrive. He sent a scout up the staircase and the man returned a few microns later to report the apartment level abandoned.
He ordered his troops up the stairs. A few microns later he was standing at the scorched east stairwell.
"They've headed for the lower sub-levels. Dispatch the men. This is now a seek and destroy mission. Kill everyone but the Nebari woman," he ordered his second in command.
"Aeryn..." said John, rethinking the idea about moving deeper into the palace. "I think it's too dangerous to move with the children with us. It would be better if we stop and hide here."
"John, listen to me. Look around this room. There is only the one exit," she said waving a hand about the storeroom.
"Right, so it'd be easier to defend," Crichton replied.
"Maybe, but we have nowhere to retreat too. It would be better for us if we keep moving," she reasoned.
"I still don't like this. We're taking too big of a chance," he said shaking his head.
"I agree with Aeryn," chimed in D'argo. "Here we are just 'seated ducks'."
"Sitting ducks, D'argo... sitting ducks," John corrected.
"Whatever! Aeryn is still right. We have to keep moving to stay ahead of the Nebari," pushed the Luxan.
"The quickest way to get the children to safety is to push ahead to met Rygel's men," Aeryn told him.
Berret was standing nearby holding Chulee. "What do you think J.B.?" asked Crichton, "Stay or go?"
The Shrike looked around at the room, then at Chiana's worried face. The woman nodded to tell him that whatever decision he made she would back. "I'm sorry, John. Chiana and I don't want to move the children either, but I don't like this place... there's no room to... maneuver," he replied carefully picking the word.
"I believe Aeryn and D'argo are correct."
"Okay," said Crichton somewhat reluctantly. "It was just a thought. I really don't want my girls seeing anymore death today."
Softening for a micron, Aeryn told him, "John, I understand your feelings and I feel that way also... but the sad truth of the matter is... is that we live in a violent place. The Territories 'are' a violent place. The children have had a safe sheltered life for almost ten cycles, but they have to learn about the real world if they are to continue to survive here. I'm sorry to say that sooner or later that lesson was coming. By the time I was their age I was able to field strip, clean, and fire several Peacekeeper issue weapons. Be glad they've had this much peace in their lives."
"I know, Aeryn. I know," admitted Crichton to his wife. "I just wish the lesson could have come along later."
She reached up and stroked his cheek. "So do I, John... so do I."
"How are you holding up, Love?" Berret asked Chiana. His wife nodded her head to him.
"I'm doing fine. Ummm, I'm sorry for snapping at you back there. I wasn't really mad at you... just sort of stressed out, ya know?"
"I know. I get that way myself when somebody's shooting at me," he tried to joke.
"Whoa... it's been a long time since we had to go through dren like this," commented Chiana, and then she slapped a hand over her mouth at the curse as she realized Berret was still holding Chulee.
The little girl's eyes grew big at the uttered cuss word.
"Whooow... Mommy gots a froth mouth!" she exclaimed.
"I think under the circumstances the slip up can be ignored," said Berret smiling at his wife, turning to his daughter he said, "But it's not okay for you to talk like that... understand Shortie?"
Chulee nodded "yes" solemnly to her father.
"At least not till you're a little older," put in Chiana brushing the girl's hair back from her small round face.
Berret looked at his wife, "Don't encourage her. She already has some of your bad habits," he teased.
He gently brushed a spot of soot off of his wife's cheek, serious now,
"I'm sorry too, Pixie. I would have come back to the apartment if there had been time."
She nodded her understanding and reached around to hug him. Her Pulse rifle slapping against his back as she did, but he didn't seem to notice as long as she was close to him.
"Let's get ready to move people!" called out Aeryn and they moved apart. Malika and Zhaan had removed their outer robes and had constructed slings out of the material into which they could each strap a child onto their backs. Chiana brought Chulee over to Zhaan while Malika bound Missy to her own. The Delvians' physical strength was such that they barely noticed the extra weight and the designed allowed them to hold their Pulse weapons in one hand while using their free arm to carry one of the other older children. They were soon ready to leave.
"Okay, listen up!" ordered Aeryn. "D'argo and Jothee take point. Andar take point cover. John and Berret have drag. Chiana and I will cover Zhaan, Malika, and the children. We move fast, silent and stop for nothing. Everyone understand?" There was a round of assents from the rest of the crew.
"Good, let's move out," the Sebacean woman commanded.
Joban carefully looked around the area before letting the Nebari invader's body slip from his grasp. A fortunate twist of fate had saved him from becoming one of the dead squad of Elite guards when instead of continuing his rounds as scheduled he had to return along his route to tell the guard at the last post he visited a post order he forgot to give the man on his earlier stop. He arrived just in time to see the black-clad figure rise up behind the man before cutting his throat. Joban managed to slip in behind the shadowy shape and repay him in kind a few microts later. Since the comms were out, he been traveling the grounds perimeter removing enemy sentries as he came upon them. The big Sebacean man had just ambushed this last man and easily snapped his neck. The trooper died without a sound. He could hear muffled pulse fire coming from the apartment levels and he decided that he couldn't waste any more time removing perimeter guards. He crossed over to the nearest servant entrance. He hefted his Pulse rifle and eased the door slowly open. The Nebari man standing watch there assumed it was another of his group and was turning to ask a question when Joban shot him once in the chest. He stepped over the body and headed deeper into the bowels of the Palace, knowing he'd have to travel the sub-levels in order to get to the stairways leading up to the apartments above him. An explosion rocked the walls and Joban blessed the Goddess that Tamilla was home in bed and not here working. Wanting to rush his way through the levels, the Sergeant forced himself to slow down and take each step carefully. Sweeping the area before him with the muzzle of his Pulse rifle. Knowing that to hurry could be fatal and he would do no one any good dead.
D'argo and Jothee moved almost at a run down the maze of corridors. Switching hallways as their senses told them of possible danger ahead of them in their current one. Andar hung back and covered the advancing Luxans' backs until they were sure of a path and then the group followed close behind when the all clear was given and the Luxans moved forward. Crichton and Berret took turns leap-frogging backwards behind the group when there was cover or moved backwards side by side when there wasn't any.
John grabbed the Shrike's arm and halted him.
"Shhhhh! Do you hear that?" asked the human.
Berret stopped and listened hard, John was right. There was a group coming up behind them fast. Berret nodded and motioned for him to be silent. Using hand signals, Berret told him to move forward and warn the others while he covered their backs. Knowing the Shrike was more adapt at guerrilla warfare and setting up ambushes, Crichton sped away to give the warning. Berret slowed his pace to give John as much time as possible to reach the others. Moving from shadow to shadow it wasn't long before the first Nebari scouts appeared down the corridor.
The two men were being careless, choosing speed over stealth. It told Berret that the Nebari were running out of time and that meant Rygel's people must be on the move. The Shrike slung the Pulse rifle over his shoulder and drew the big Peacekeeper combat knife at his belt. The blackened blade reflected almost no light in the shadows except for along its shiny razor edge. The men moved past the ex-assassin's hidden position and he glided in behind the rear scout. Berret slammed a knee hard into the man's lower back as he reach around and grabbed his chin and forced his head up. He rammed the blade of the knife into the spot were the Nebari's skull joined the top of his spine. Once it was buried deep he twisted the blade to server the spinal cord. The man went instantly limp and Berret yanked the blade free and let the body fall to the ground. The first scout turned at the slight sound behind him and started to raise his weapon. Berret flipped the knife around and caught it by the bloody blade. His arm snapped downward and the combat knife seemed to sprout instantly from the invader's chest. The Nebari looked shocked for a moment and attempted to still bring his rifle to bear on the ex-assassin. Berret covered the distance between them, the thrown blade having bought him the time. He slammed a palm heel into the man's nose knocking him unconscious. The Nebari quickly bled out and died without waking up. Berret retrieve his knife and wiped the blue blood off his hands. When he first came aboard Moya, the killing use to bother him even if he only did it in self-defense or in defense of a crewmate. Now with a threat to his family he found that it didn't bother him as much as long as they stayed safe. He was about to move on to join the others when a thought occurred to him. It was time to send Hyril a message and make good on his promise. He bent down and quickly went to work.
The point man reported to Captain Stoma that he found something he should see. Pushing his way to the front of his troops, they moved aside to show him what the lead man had discovered. Sitting in the middle of the corridor were the bodies of his two scouts. They were propped up side by side with their arms over each other's shoulders as if sitting together in comradely conversation. The only problem with the picture was that each man's head was sitting in his lap... with a primed shatter grenade jammed into each mouth.
One trooper was about to move the bodies when Stoma slapped the man,
"Don't touch them, Dren-head! Can't you see they're boobie trapped!"
The man cringed back, "I'm sorry, Captain... but the grenade's spoons are being held together by their jaws... as long as we don't try to remove them we should be safe."
"You fool!" shouted the Captain, threatening to strike the man again. "Do you think such an obvious trap is the only one that they left behind?" He turned away from the man in disgust.
"Nobody is to touch the bodies until we leave and then we're going to blow them to atoms... no evidence is to be left behind!" He turned to his second in command. "Move out now!" he ordered.
The second officer kicked the men ahead of them. He looked one last time at the deceased scouts. Somebody left these men like this as a message. Remembering the incident and warning Hyril received that day in the market he was willing to bet his next pay-credit that the person responsible was the Nebari woman's bond-mate. It seemed he meant to make good on his promise to Hyril. The savageness of the act only proved the point that Conformity; the Nebari way... was the only true way for the rest of the Territories to follow.
John ran up behind the rest of the group. "We've got trouble coming up behind us... and fast!" he reported to his wife and the rest. Aeryn turned and gave a sharp whistle up to Andar, who in turn repeated the call to the Luxan point men.
"They're on to us all ready," commented Aeryn as the point team joined the group.
Chiana turned to Crichton after it became apparent that Berret wasn't with him.
"Where's Jared?" she asked pulling on his arm.
"He stayed behind to slow them down," he answered and then seeing the look of worry on her face added, "Don't worry, Pip. I'm sure he found a way to ruin their day without getting caught."
Chiana shook her head slightly to agree with him, if anyone could make a mess of things... it was her Bond-mate. She still nervously looked back the way John had just come as D'argo and Jothee where reporting that they'd found a main corridor ahead of them. Berret finally jogged up to the group a micron later and without waiting to be asked he gave his report,
"Large group of Nebari... at least 12 men, about five microns behind me. I gave them something to think about, but they're still coming up fast."
"Okay, then times up!" said Aeryn. "We head for the main corridor and we shoot our way through anything that comes up, no more detours and we don't stop until we met up with Rygel's guard. D'argo, Jothee, and Andar on point, Zhaan and Malika, let the older children run with you so you can fight, carry them only if you have too. Chiana, you provide cover for them. Jared, John, and I will run drag. Let's get the hezmana out of here."
Once the crewmates broke into the main corridor the going was easier. However the wide spaces had little in the way of cover except some randomly scattered groups of boxes and crates. A few microns later the pursuing force of black-clad Nebari swept into the corridor behind them. The firefight that ensued forced the companions to take cover and make a stand. The two groups traded pulse bolts, neither side scoring hits with the first rounds.
"We got ourselves a Mexican Standoff!" yelled Crichton to the others.
"A can of who?" yelled back D'argo, wondering what the yotz he was talking about.
"Never mind!" said John as he ducked a bolt.
Aeryn felt it was a better situation. "If we can hold them here until the Elite guards arrive we'll be okay," she told the others. "Just nobody do anything foolish and get your heads down as much as possible. Time is now on our side."
"I thought we were already doing something foolish!" shouted John as he fired off several bolts and ducked down again just as several more bolts answered him back. Pieces of the crate he was hiding behind flying off from the explosive impacts.
Zhaan and Malika had the children back further from the fighting. The large crates containing some sort of machinery making almost perfect cover compared to what the others fought behind. Malika was just about to rise up over the top of one crate to fire her Pulse rifle when Zhaan pulled her back down. Malika looked at the older Delvian as if she'd gone mad, until Zhaan explained her action,
"We don't want to draw the enemy fire here as long as these crates are giving the children sanctuary." Malika nodded at the wisdom, wishing she had thought of that before she almost made the mistake. Zhaan knew the younger woman would not stay out of the fight much longer. Her sense of loyalty not letting her stand by while the others fought.
"Move up to Chiana's position and fight from there. I will take care of the children."
The young Pa'u left without having to be told twice. She crawled her way forward past several crates until she came up along side the Nebari woman, who was standing up behind a tall metal crate and popping off shots before dropping back down behind it to change her rifle's power clip.
"Hey, did you leave any for me?" the Delvian asked in greeting.
Chiana looked at her and replied, "Oh yeah, there's frelling plenty to go around!" before standing back up to began shooting over the other's heads again.
Captain Stoma raged at his men. "This is frelling getting us nowhere!" he said as a pulse bolt slammed into a cabinet he was using as cover. "We are almost out of time and will have to withdraw soon. I'm going to get the frelling woman myself!"
He pointed out three of the men nearby, "You, you, and you will come with me. The rest of you will make yourselves useful and keep them pinned down."
The three chosen troopers crawled after their commander into one of the side hallways away from the fighting. Once safely inside the side corridor, he called the men closer to him so he could give them their orders.
"We are going to use these off-shoot hallways to get around and come up behind them. We want the Nebari woman alive if possible, the body if we have too, everyone else in that group you see... kill."
The men nodded and followed their leader down the semi dark hall.
Joban had almost made it to one of the servant stairways when the sound of pulse fire returned. This time it was coming from somewhere ahead of him in the sub-levels.
"Smart. Very smart," he murmured to himself as he realized that the Dominar's old crewmates had taken the battle into the lower levels were they would be able to run and fight as needed. He turned away from the stairwell and headed in the direction of the new skirmishing. It wasn't long before he began to find the bodies. Most were other servants he'd known, one or two even from his home planet. The sight made the large man curse and fueled his anger. He came upon the two scouts still sitting in their friendly manner in the corridor where they died. The big Sebacean walked around the corpses examining them. He bent down close to inspect the shatter grenades lodged between the dead men's jaws and then chuckled.
"My Lord Shrike... you are clever," he said to himself.
He reached in and grabbing the first grenade by the arming spoon and pulled it free of the restraining jaws. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a pair of the extra grenade pins that most experienced soldiers would carry in case they had just such an occasion and needed to re-safe an armed grenade. Inserting the pin through the arming hole he was able to release the spoon. He repeated the operation with the second grenade and slipped them both into a pocket. He stood up and chuckled some more while kicking the bodies over. After his examination he knew there were no other boobie traps, but the Nebari probably spent precious microns trying to find where they were before giving up and leaving the bodies untouched. He picked up his rifle and started again for the sounds of fighting.
"That really must have mind frelled them... clever indeed," the man murmured again, smiling to himself.
Jothee's Qualta Rifle clicked dry. He looked down at the power meter. "Out!" he called to his father as he unhinged and folded the handle, causing the two blade halves to close over the barrel making a solid blade again. He slung the blade over his shoulder and re-sheathed it and then drew a pulse pistol from his belt.
Checking his own Qualta rifle the Luxan said, "I'm almost dry too," as his son started firing his side arm at the Nebari. Chiana heard the Luxan's report and unslung her second Pulse rifle and dropped it down to Malika, who then slid it along the floor until it bumped up against the Luxan's boot. D'argo grunted his thanks as he fired off four more bolts before hearing the telltale click of the empty sword rifle. He closed and slung his blade, then snatched up Chiana's second Pulse gun. John flung a bag of power clips over to the father and son saying, "Make em' last!"
The commander of the Palace security forces snapped to attention in front of the Dominar and gave a salute. "Enough of that dren! Just tell me your report," snapped Rygel.
"My Lord, we believe we have located your comrades. There were reports of pulse fire and an explosion in the apartments. The fighting seems to have moved into the sub-levels as you predicted. The 2nd and 3rd Elite Guard battalions are in route to the location as we speak. I must also report, Dominar... that most of the Elite Guard that was assigned security duty at the apartments have been found dead at their post. However there are also several dead Nebari troops also in the area."
"Could D'argo and the others have been responsible for the dead Nebari?" asked Rygel.
"We don't think so, My Lord. We believe 1st Sergeant Rickler is responsible. He has not been accounted for... and a number of the Nebari were killed using a Elite Guard combat style," report the man.
"Rickler? Rickler? Where have I heard that name before?" Rygel asked himself.
"Joban Rickler, sir... he's one of the Sebacean refugees brought into the guard. He's a very large man and his daughter Tamilla works here in the Royal palace," filled in the officer.
"Ah, yes. I remember him now. Do you have an idea of what happened to him after he killed the Nebari?"
"The evidence suggests that he may have entered the sub-levels to get to the fighting. One of the Nebari we found was just inside a servant entrance," continued the commander.
"Send in a detachment to follow him now. They will need all the help we can get to them," ordered the Hynerian. The commander saluted and turned on a boot heel to carry out his orders.
"My Lord?" asked Rygel's head of security. "How do you know they headed into the sub-levels?"
"BECAUSE...." Rygel said exasperated, "That's what I would have done. You don't live with somebody for all those cycles and not know how they think."
"Of course, Dominar. Right away," the man said as he snapped off a salute.
"And bring me any Nebari you capture alive... or even dead for that matter. A corpse will be just as good as a living prisoner to confront the Ambassador with," Rygel added.
"At once, My Lord!" said the Sebacean as he left the throne room.
"And you better pray to the Goddess, Lerris... that nothing has happened to any of them... or there will be a second war in the Territories before this weeken is out," vowed the Hynerian ruler to himself.
The operation wasn't going quite according to plan thought Captain Stoma. Their element of surprise was lost to them before they even gained access to the apartment level of the Palace. Somehow the people inside were warned and had laid an ambush for him and his men. The huge snarling dark shape in the common room firefight could only have been the full-blooded Luxan. The second smaller figure had to be one of the Sebaceans though he didn't know which one. Whoever it was, they were very agile and well trained to have appeared amidst his men like that without warning. Probably an ex-Peacekeeper he thought. He had lost a third of his advance team just crossing the common room and taking the stairway. Another eight men that were sent to try and secure the east stairway were most likely dead in that explosion. Not wanting to lose any more troops, he called for a withdrawal back down the stairway in case they lobbed another bomb down. Taking the time to revise his plan to account for the new situation he decided there was still time to trap his quarry before help from the Hynerian forces could organize and arrive. He sent a scout up the staircase and the man returned a few microns later to report the apartment level abandoned.
He ordered his troops up the stairs. A few microns later he was standing at the scorched east stairwell.
"They've headed for the lower sub-levels. Dispatch the men. This is now a seek and destroy mission. Kill everyone but the Nebari woman," he ordered his second in command.
"Aeryn..." said John, rethinking the idea about moving deeper into the palace. "I think it's too dangerous to move with the children with us. It would be better if we stop and hide here."
"John, listen to me. Look around this room. There is only the one exit," she said waving a hand about the storeroom.
"Right, so it'd be easier to defend," Crichton replied.
"Maybe, but we have nowhere to retreat too. It would be better for us if we keep moving," she reasoned.
"I still don't like this. We're taking too big of a chance," he said shaking his head.
"I agree with Aeryn," chimed in D'argo. "Here we are just 'seated ducks'."
"Sitting ducks, D'argo... sitting ducks," John corrected.
"Whatever! Aeryn is still right. We have to keep moving to stay ahead of the Nebari," pushed the Luxan.
"The quickest way to get the children to safety is to push ahead to met Rygel's men," Aeryn told him.
Berret was standing nearby holding Chulee. "What do you think J.B.?" asked Crichton, "Stay or go?"
The Shrike looked around at the room, then at Chiana's worried face. The woman nodded to tell him that whatever decision he made she would back. "I'm sorry, John. Chiana and I don't want to move the children either, but I don't like this place... there's no room to... maneuver," he replied carefully picking the word.
"I believe Aeryn and D'argo are correct."
"Okay," said Crichton somewhat reluctantly. "It was just a thought. I really don't want my girls seeing anymore death today."
Softening for a micron, Aeryn told him, "John, I understand your feelings and I feel that way also... but the sad truth of the matter is... is that we live in a violent place. The Territories 'are' a violent place. The children have had a safe sheltered life for almost ten cycles, but they have to learn about the real world if they are to continue to survive here. I'm sorry to say that sooner or later that lesson was coming. By the time I was their age I was able to field strip, clean, and fire several Peacekeeper issue weapons. Be glad they've had this much peace in their lives."
"I know, Aeryn. I know," admitted Crichton to his wife. "I just wish the lesson could have come along later."
She reached up and stroked his cheek. "So do I, John... so do I."
"How are you holding up, Love?" Berret asked Chiana. His wife nodded her head to him.
"I'm doing fine. Ummm, I'm sorry for snapping at you back there. I wasn't really mad at you... just sort of stressed out, ya know?"
"I know. I get that way myself when somebody's shooting at me," he tried to joke.
"Whoa... it's been a long time since we had to go through dren like this," commented Chiana, and then she slapped a hand over her mouth at the curse as she realized Berret was still holding Chulee.
The little girl's eyes grew big at the uttered cuss word.
"Whooow... Mommy gots a froth mouth!" she exclaimed.
"I think under the circumstances the slip up can be ignored," said Berret smiling at his wife, turning to his daughter he said, "But it's not okay for you to talk like that... understand Shortie?"
Chulee nodded "yes" solemnly to her father.
"At least not till you're a little older," put in Chiana brushing the girl's hair back from her small round face.
Berret looked at his wife, "Don't encourage her. She already has some of your bad habits," he teased.
He gently brushed a spot of soot off of his wife's cheek, serious now,
"I'm sorry too, Pixie. I would have come back to the apartment if there had been time."
She nodded her understanding and reached around to hug him. Her Pulse rifle slapping against his back as she did, but he didn't seem to notice as long as she was close to him.
"Let's get ready to move people!" called out Aeryn and they moved apart. Malika and Zhaan had removed their outer robes and had constructed slings out of the material into which they could each strap a child onto their backs. Chiana brought Chulee over to Zhaan while Malika bound Missy to her own. The Delvians' physical strength was such that they barely noticed the extra weight and the designed allowed them to hold their Pulse weapons in one hand while using their free arm to carry one of the other older children. They were soon ready to leave.
"Okay, listen up!" ordered Aeryn. "D'argo and Jothee take point. Andar take point cover. John and Berret have drag. Chiana and I will cover Zhaan, Malika, and the children. We move fast, silent and stop for nothing. Everyone understand?" There was a round of assents from the rest of the crew.
"Good, let's move out," the Sebacean woman commanded.
Joban carefully looked around the area before letting the Nebari invader's body slip from his grasp. A fortunate twist of fate had saved him from becoming one of the dead squad of Elite guards when instead of continuing his rounds as scheduled he had to return along his route to tell the guard at the last post he visited a post order he forgot to give the man on his earlier stop. He arrived just in time to see the black-clad figure rise up behind the man before cutting his throat. Joban managed to slip in behind the shadowy shape and repay him in kind a few microts later. Since the comms were out, he been traveling the grounds perimeter removing enemy sentries as he came upon them. The big Sebacean man had just ambushed this last man and easily snapped his neck. The trooper died without a sound. He could hear muffled pulse fire coming from the apartment levels and he decided that he couldn't waste any more time removing perimeter guards. He crossed over to the nearest servant entrance. He hefted his Pulse rifle and eased the door slowly open. The Nebari man standing watch there assumed it was another of his group and was turning to ask a question when Joban shot him once in the chest. He stepped over the body and headed deeper into the bowels of the Palace, knowing he'd have to travel the sub-levels in order to get to the stairways leading up to the apartments above him. An explosion rocked the walls and Joban blessed the Goddess that Tamilla was home in bed and not here working. Wanting to rush his way through the levels, the Sergeant forced himself to slow down and take each step carefully. Sweeping the area before him with the muzzle of his Pulse rifle. Knowing that to hurry could be fatal and he would do no one any good dead.
D'argo and Jothee moved almost at a run down the maze of corridors. Switching hallways as their senses told them of possible danger ahead of them in their current one. Andar hung back and covered the advancing Luxans' backs until they were sure of a path and then the group followed close behind when the all clear was given and the Luxans moved forward. Crichton and Berret took turns leap-frogging backwards behind the group when there was cover or moved backwards side by side when there wasn't any.
John grabbed the Shrike's arm and halted him.
"Shhhhh! Do you hear that?" asked the human.
Berret stopped and listened hard, John was right. There was a group coming up behind them fast. Berret nodded and motioned for him to be silent. Using hand signals, Berret told him to move forward and warn the others while he covered their backs. Knowing the Shrike was more adapt at guerrilla warfare and setting up ambushes, Crichton sped away to give the warning. Berret slowed his pace to give John as much time as possible to reach the others. Moving from shadow to shadow it wasn't long before the first Nebari scouts appeared down the corridor.
The two men were being careless, choosing speed over stealth. It told Berret that the Nebari were running out of time and that meant Rygel's people must be on the move. The Shrike slung the Pulse rifle over his shoulder and drew the big Peacekeeper combat knife at his belt. The blackened blade reflected almost no light in the shadows except for along its shiny razor edge. The men moved past the ex-assassin's hidden position and he glided in behind the rear scout. Berret slammed a knee hard into the man's lower back as he reach around and grabbed his chin and forced his head up. He rammed the blade of the knife into the spot were the Nebari's skull joined the top of his spine. Once it was buried deep he twisted the blade to server the spinal cord. The man went instantly limp and Berret yanked the blade free and let the body fall to the ground. The first scout turned at the slight sound behind him and started to raise his weapon. Berret flipped the knife around and caught it by the bloody blade. His arm snapped downward and the combat knife seemed to sprout instantly from the invader's chest. The Nebari looked shocked for a moment and attempted to still bring his rifle to bear on the ex-assassin. Berret covered the distance between them, the thrown blade having bought him the time. He slammed a palm heel into the man's nose knocking him unconscious. The Nebari quickly bled out and died without waking up. Berret retrieve his knife and wiped the blue blood off his hands. When he first came aboard Moya, the killing use to bother him even if he only did it in self-defense or in defense of a crewmate. Now with a threat to his family he found that it didn't bother him as much as long as they stayed safe. He was about to move on to join the others when a thought occurred to him. It was time to send Hyril a message and make good on his promise. He bent down and quickly went to work.
The point man reported to Captain Stoma that he found something he should see. Pushing his way to the front of his troops, they moved aside to show him what the lead man had discovered. Sitting in the middle of the corridor were the bodies of his two scouts. They were propped up side by side with their arms over each other's shoulders as if sitting together in comradely conversation. The only problem with the picture was that each man's head was sitting in his lap... with a primed shatter grenade jammed into each mouth.
One trooper was about to move the bodies when Stoma slapped the man,
"Don't touch them, Dren-head! Can't you see they're boobie trapped!"
The man cringed back, "I'm sorry, Captain... but the grenade's spoons are being held together by their jaws... as long as we don't try to remove them we should be safe."
"You fool!" shouted the Captain, threatening to strike the man again. "Do you think such an obvious trap is the only one that they left behind?" He turned away from the man in disgust.
"Nobody is to touch the bodies until we leave and then we're going to blow them to atoms... no evidence is to be left behind!" He turned to his second in command. "Move out now!" he ordered.
The second officer kicked the men ahead of them. He looked one last time at the deceased scouts. Somebody left these men like this as a message. Remembering the incident and warning Hyril received that day in the market he was willing to bet his next pay-credit that the person responsible was the Nebari woman's bond-mate. It seemed he meant to make good on his promise to Hyril. The savageness of the act only proved the point that Conformity; the Nebari way... was the only true way for the rest of the Territories to follow.
John ran up behind the rest of the group. "We've got trouble coming up behind us... and fast!" he reported to his wife and the rest. Aeryn turned and gave a sharp whistle up to Andar, who in turn repeated the call to the Luxan point men.
"They're on to us all ready," commented Aeryn as the point team joined the group.
Chiana turned to Crichton after it became apparent that Berret wasn't with him.
"Where's Jared?" she asked pulling on his arm.
"He stayed behind to slow them down," he answered and then seeing the look of worry on her face added, "Don't worry, Pip. I'm sure he found a way to ruin their day without getting caught."
Chiana shook her head slightly to agree with him, if anyone could make a mess of things... it was her Bond-mate. She still nervously looked back the way John had just come as D'argo and Jothee where reporting that they'd found a main corridor ahead of them. Berret finally jogged up to the group a micron later and without waiting to be asked he gave his report,
"Large group of Nebari... at least 12 men, about five microns behind me. I gave them something to think about, but they're still coming up fast."
"Okay, then times up!" said Aeryn. "We head for the main corridor and we shoot our way through anything that comes up, no more detours and we don't stop until we met up with Rygel's guard. D'argo, Jothee, and Andar on point, Zhaan and Malika, let the older children run with you so you can fight, carry them only if you have too. Chiana, you provide cover for them. Jared, John, and I will run drag. Let's get the hezmana out of here."
Once the crewmates broke into the main corridor the going was easier. However the wide spaces had little in the way of cover except some randomly scattered groups of boxes and crates. A few microns later the pursuing force of black-clad Nebari swept into the corridor behind them. The firefight that ensued forced the companions to take cover and make a stand. The two groups traded pulse bolts, neither side scoring hits with the first rounds.
"We got ourselves a Mexican Standoff!" yelled Crichton to the others.
"A can of who?" yelled back D'argo, wondering what the yotz he was talking about.
"Never mind!" said John as he ducked a bolt.
Aeryn felt it was a better situation. "If we can hold them here until the Elite guards arrive we'll be okay," she told the others. "Just nobody do anything foolish and get your heads down as much as possible. Time is now on our side."
"I thought we were already doing something foolish!" shouted John as he fired off several bolts and ducked down again just as several more bolts answered him back. Pieces of the crate he was hiding behind flying off from the explosive impacts.
Zhaan and Malika had the children back further from the fighting. The large crates containing some sort of machinery making almost perfect cover compared to what the others fought behind. Malika was just about to rise up over the top of one crate to fire her Pulse rifle when Zhaan pulled her back down. Malika looked at the older Delvian as if she'd gone mad, until Zhaan explained her action,
"We don't want to draw the enemy fire here as long as these crates are giving the children sanctuary." Malika nodded at the wisdom, wishing she had thought of that before she almost made the mistake. Zhaan knew the younger woman would not stay out of the fight much longer. Her sense of loyalty not letting her stand by while the others fought.
"Move up to Chiana's position and fight from there. I will take care of the children."
The young Pa'u left without having to be told twice. She crawled her way forward past several crates until she came up along side the Nebari woman, who was standing up behind a tall metal crate and popping off shots before dropping back down behind it to change her rifle's power clip.
"Hey, did you leave any for me?" the Delvian asked in greeting.
Chiana looked at her and replied, "Oh yeah, there's frelling plenty to go around!" before standing back up to began shooting over the other's heads again.
Captain Stoma raged at his men. "This is frelling getting us nowhere!" he said as a pulse bolt slammed into a cabinet he was using as cover. "We are almost out of time and will have to withdraw soon. I'm going to get the frelling woman myself!"
He pointed out three of the men nearby, "You, you, and you will come with me. The rest of you will make yourselves useful and keep them pinned down."
The three chosen troopers crawled after their commander into one of the side hallways away from the fighting. Once safely inside the side corridor, he called the men closer to him so he could give them their orders.
"We are going to use these off-shoot hallways to get around and come up behind them. We want the Nebari woman alive if possible, the body if we have too, everyone else in that group you see... kill."
The men nodded and followed their leader down the semi dark hall.
Joban had almost made it to one of the servant stairways when the sound of pulse fire returned. This time it was coming from somewhere ahead of him in the sub-levels.
"Smart. Very smart," he murmured to himself as he realized that the Dominar's old crewmates had taken the battle into the lower levels were they would be able to run and fight as needed. He turned away from the stairwell and headed in the direction of the new skirmishing. It wasn't long before he began to find the bodies. Most were other servants he'd known, one or two even from his home planet. The sight made the large man curse and fueled his anger. He came upon the two scouts still sitting in their friendly manner in the corridor where they died. The big Sebacean walked around the corpses examining them. He bent down close to inspect the shatter grenades lodged between the dead men's jaws and then chuckled.
"My Lord Shrike... you are clever," he said to himself.
He reached in and grabbing the first grenade by the arming spoon and pulled it free of the restraining jaws. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a pair of the extra grenade pins that most experienced soldiers would carry in case they had just such an occasion and needed to re-safe an armed grenade. Inserting the pin through the arming hole he was able to release the spoon. He repeated the operation with the second grenade and slipped them both into a pocket. He stood up and chuckled some more while kicking the bodies over. After his examination he knew there were no other boobie traps, but the Nebari probably spent precious microns trying to find where they were before giving up and leaving the bodies untouched. He picked up his rifle and started again for the sounds of fighting.
"That really must have mind frelled them... clever indeed," the man murmured again, smiling to himself.
Jothee's Qualta Rifle clicked dry. He looked down at the power meter. "Out!" he called to his father as he unhinged and folded the handle, causing the two blade halves to close over the barrel making a solid blade again. He slung the blade over his shoulder and re-sheathed it and then drew a pulse pistol from his belt.
Checking his own Qualta rifle the Luxan said, "I'm almost dry too," as his son started firing his side arm at the Nebari. Chiana heard the Luxan's report and unslung her second Pulse rifle and dropped it down to Malika, who then slid it along the floor until it bumped up against the Luxan's boot. D'argo grunted his thanks as he fired off four more bolts before hearing the telltale click of the empty sword rifle. He closed and slung his blade, then snatched up Chiana's second Pulse gun. John flung a bag of power clips over to the father and son saying, "Make em' last!"
The commander of the Palace security forces snapped to attention in front of the Dominar and gave a salute. "Enough of that dren! Just tell me your report," snapped Rygel.
"My Lord, we believe we have located your comrades. There were reports of pulse fire and an explosion in the apartments. The fighting seems to have moved into the sub-levels as you predicted. The 2nd and 3rd Elite Guard battalions are in route to the location as we speak. I must also report, Dominar... that most of the Elite Guard that was assigned security duty at the apartments have been found dead at their post. However there are also several dead Nebari troops also in the area."
"Could D'argo and the others have been responsible for the dead Nebari?" asked Rygel.
"We don't think so, My Lord. We believe 1st Sergeant Rickler is responsible. He has not been accounted for... and a number of the Nebari were killed using a Elite Guard combat style," report the man.
"Rickler? Rickler? Where have I heard that name before?" Rygel asked himself.
"Joban Rickler, sir... he's one of the Sebacean refugees brought into the guard. He's a very large man and his daughter Tamilla works here in the Royal palace," filled in the officer.
"Ah, yes. I remember him now. Do you have an idea of what happened to him after he killed the Nebari?"
"The evidence suggests that he may have entered the sub-levels to get to the fighting. One of the Nebari we found was just inside a servant entrance," continued the commander.
"Send in a detachment to follow him now. They will need all the help we can get to them," ordered the Hynerian. The commander saluted and turned on a boot heel to carry out his orders.