Hollis and Hollin embraced when they saw each other. Hollin had much to tell Hollis and Hollis shared being aboard the ship with Hollis. It was fortunate, Gyllian thought, that The Czarina took it upon herself to speak with the children–Gyllian thought of them as children–and help them through the first days of their grief and relocation.
Christabel continued to monitor the disintegration of Marathon. According to the reports that came in, The Rebel Horde had lost control of their insurgency. People just exploded things. Sometimes they belonged to a group with an agenda. Sometimes,, it seemed, groups of individuals blew up things for the sake of blowing them up. There were food riots. There were natural disasters like flooding or blizzards. The only place there seemed to be any organization at all was in the former Duchy of Scarlatti now called Freedom. The Rebel Horde had no real agenda and they found themselves calling on the former government employees to return to work to manage the province. Some did. Some did not. Many had already been killed and could not assist them. Debussy on La Mer fell into total chaos and many died. Mobs went on rampages. Without a municipal leadership, a group headed by Daniels took over. It seemed he was only interested in personal gain and those who could assist him in obtaining it. There was no word on either Mrs. Farnesworth or Gwennore. Ronnie suspected Daniels had eliminated them if they had not succumbed in the mob violence which preceded his administration.
Meanwhile, those aboard the ship excepting Hollis and Hollin, discussed what their next move was.
Gyllian said, “The Confederation is ineffectual. I’ve contacted them but basically they only have representatives from the other two planets. So long as this rebellion stays focused on Marathon, they don’t really care what happens. The manufacturing centers for their higher end technologies are on Safe Landing so collectively they aren’t too worried. I think they are short-sighted, of course. Most of the population is located on Marathon. Without workers and knowledgeable ones at that, they will run into trouble later.”
“What makes them so isolationist?” Ronnie asked. With a look in Captain Kidd’s direction she said, “The League of Hypatian Pirates thinks of itself as operating independently, but it knows it depends on the structure of the Pharaoh Star System to support its activities. It needs the Over the Moon Base to transfer cargo and repair its ships. It needs the Asclepius Medical Center to care for its injured and sick. It needs Ptolemy City to employ them. Yes, once upon a time, it could operate at the Third Cataract and a very scaled down version of the Over the Moon with rough-and-ready medical care, but that was in the distant past.” Gyllian said, “I think they have lost the ability to think in terms of a galactic perspective. I think they would be classified as a retrograde society.”
The Czarina joined them. “From our experience on Llondune, I would agree with that assessment, wouldn’t you, dear?” she turned to Captain Kidd.
“Yes, I think I would,” Captain Kidd said. “They say us pirates don’t give a damn about anybody else, but we care about our star system and our race much more than these people do. We don’t pray upon a fleet of ships carrying medical supplies or food to a disaster area, at least, reputable pirates don’t. We take care of those who do something like that. These people,” he shook his head in wonder, “these people are indifferent to the suffering of others. They have no interest in bettering themselves or getting ahead.”
“How are Hollis and Hollin?” Ronnie asked The Czarina.
“Asleep,” The Czarina said. “Are we planning to integrate them into our group.”
“I have been thinking about that,” Gyllian said. “They aren’t our equals, of course. It is their planet but they don’t have any say in our mission. I think isolating them would be inadvisable. What do you think, Star? It your ship.”
Captain Star Runner remained in the control area. He claimed pressing work. Gyllian wondered if there was something wrong or whether he was avoiding the humans on board.
“I am pleased you have remembered that this is my ride,” Captain Star Runner said over the intercom. “Perhaps you should have thought of that before inviting Queen Hollin on board. She will be quite difficult. I find her tone of voice and her manner very unsettling and unpleasant.”
What Christabel heard and saw Captain Star Runner also heard and saw if he received the stream unfiltered.
Gyllian said, “She was my only link to the planet. I had to take her on board.”
Star made a noise that had no speech equivalent. It sounded like a snort.
Fence repairing time, Gyllian thought. She would have to look for an opportunity.
“We have an update on the Pantheran satellite,” Christabel said.
“We’re listening,” Gyllian said.
“When I showed the data to Captain Star Runner, it said it looked familiar and might be in the juvenile archives. I have not had a reason to decompress them so it did not look familiar to me. Captain Star Runner is right. The code was used in juvenile classes. It is a very old code. Armed with this information, we were able to easily decode everything and read it. We’ve reset all the flags so the data remains in an unread and UN-interrogated state.”
“The latest messages that have come in are from someone called Dangerous Daniels,” Christabel continued. “We believe this is the Daniels from 202 Green Street. He is advising the Pantherans that he has completed the mission and wants the rest of the payment.”
“What mission?” Gyllian asked quickly. “What sort of payment?”
“I am getting to that,” Christabel said with a touch of exasperation in her tone. “I need to explain everything to you so you understand the scope of this message.”
“Please continue,” Gyllian said. Sometimes the AI could be very pedantic.
“The messages stored in the satellite go back one hundred and thirty-seven Pantheran years plus forty-seven days. This is represented as a hexadecimal number. By reading all the messages, we have learned this arrangement was established with someone called Dangerous Daniels but the current Dangerous Daniels is not the one who made the original bargain. The contract is not stored on the satellite so we have no idea what the payment is or how it is to be paid. Intelligence information is given about various governments, the people involved and different treaties and trade agreements made. Now the message states that the de-stabilization that the Pantherans required has been achieved.”
“And that works out to be how many solar years?” Ronnie asked.
“About two hundred and fifty,” Christabel said immediately.
“So this organization or this group of people have been working on a contract for the Pantherans for several centuries?” The Czarina asked. “That’s incredible.”
“It must be a hell of a pay off,” Captain Kidd said. “I am trying to imagine the League of Hypatian Pirates passing down a contract like that.”
“It must assure them world domination or something,” Ronnie said.
“There must have been a down payment and then the rest to follow,” Gyllian said, trying to work out what the end game here was. “As Ronnie says, they were promised world denomination or immortality or a chance to work on a bigger stage. I cannot imagine the Pantherans offering them anything like that.”
“You could keep stringing them along,” Captain Kidd mused. A"Promise them something vague but big. Give them something, then keep coming back and giving them a little more and then a little more while moving the goal further and further out."
“So when are the Pantherans expected back to pick up their messages?” The Czarina asked.
“Soon,” Christabel said.
“Do we want to be here when they do?” Ronnie asked.
Before anyone could answer, Captain Star Runner said, “They’re here.”
Section Thirty-Four: Take One Mother Space
This is one possible ending. I do not like this possible ending very much as it closes off the Confederation of Three Planets and leaves Hollis and Hollin the only survivors. In this scenario, Hollin kills herself leaving Hollis alone. Star suggests Hollis join Tamara’s archaeological dig. It is a downer. I will keep this ending here as part of nanowrimo but I will rewrite this section with a different outcome.
“Let’s move,” Gyllian said. Her tone was one of command.
“Already done,” Captain Star Runner said. “It is a whole squadron of military vehicles. I do not want to be anywhere near them.”
“Can we get to an extraction point before they notice us?” Gyllian asked.
“We are shielded from them by the planet and one of its moons,” Star replied. “I have kept us hidden since your return. I can move directly toward a safe extraction point. Please secure yourselves for high G acceleration.”
Star wanted to move quickly.
“William and I will secure the children,” The Czarina said. “We are old hands at acceleration.”
They moved quickly to reach the crew quarters where Hollis and Hollin were.
Gyllian walked toward her cabin. She disliked acceleration in Star’s vessel whatever the vessel. Captain Star Runner always went as fast as human beings could tolerate and it was never comfortable. Gyllian hoped Hollis and Hollin would not be too frightened. At times, she was frightened at the amount of G-force her body was expected to tolerate.
Later, it seemed like an eternity, the G-forces dissipated.
“We are in Mother Space,” Christabel announced. “We have also heard some military chatter to pass on to you.” Christabel paused. That was unusual. The AI had a sense of drama, but usually she gave the information quickly. “The Pantherans are seeding the star. It will go supernova within seven solar days.”
would be destroyed within the week and there would be nothing she could do about it. All her efforts had been a total waste of time. The Pantherans had never wanted the worlds to survive.
Idly, Gyllian wondered if Christabel meant seven standard solar days or seven local standard days. She supposed it really did not matter. The planets settled by the escaping humans all those thousands of years ago.
“If that is true,” Ronnie said later, “then why all this cloak and dagger stuff about a contract with Dangerous Daniels and company? It makes no sense.”
“It is a test,” Captain Star Runner said. “This is a new weapon and it needs a test star.”
“Do what we say or we’ll blow your planet up,” Gyllian said. “Want proof? We can show you our test star.”
They sat in silence, still shocked by the overwhelming destruction and disregard for life, even life in a chaotic world.
“Now what?” The Czarina asked. “I keep saying this over and over. I don’t like saying it, but it seems the only question to ask.”
Section Thirty-Four: Take Two. Mother Space
As soon as Gyllian and Ronnie had frog marched Hollin on board the ship, Gyllian said, “Let’s move.” This was her command voice.
“Already preparing for blast off,” Captain Star Runner replied.
“What is our status?” Gyllian asked when she had shed her winter clothes.
The Czarina stepped forward to shepherd Hollin below to join her brother. There seemed no reason to pretend there were no human beings aboard any more. With the destruction of The Royal Precincts and the death of Lord Stern, the government of The Royal Province of Debussy on La Mer had effectively fallen to The Rebel Horde. Gyllian never learn what The Czarina said in explanation. Perhaps she said nothing at all but acted as if her appearance in their lives was to be expected. The Czarina was a woman of mystery and she rarely explained anything. Gyllian was surprised at her maternal nature. She was surprised, too, that Captain Kidd joined her in caring for the two former royals. Gyllian had to remind herself that neither Hollis nor Hollin were children though their behavior was often juvenile. She had had several years experience in the Solar League Navy at their age and had already been under fire.
“We are holding our position behind the larger Marathon moon,” Captain Star Runner reported.
“Because–” Gyllian said.
“Because of Christabel’s calculations and an updated Fungusian Network communique,” Captain Star Runner replied.
My. He was being formal. Gyllian recognized Captain Star Runner’s lapse into military protocols. Was this stress or was there a reason for the fuchsia-colored Pantherans behavior?
“Report,” she said.
Christabel said, “I have read all the reports housed on the Pantheran satellite. They date back two hundred and fifty Pantheran solar years. This suggests the Pantherans do not come very often to pick up their messages. However, the most recent message has just arrived from Dangerous Daniels. This is a name used throughout the two hundred and fifty year period. It is more of a title than a name.”
Gyllian waited. Interrupting Christabel could simply mean waiting longer for the critical information.
“Dangerous Daniels states he has fulfilled the contract set for Dangerous Daniels and his organization. He asks for the balance due on the contract in precious metals.”
“So The Rebel Horde is behind all the chaos,” Ronnie said.
“It would appear so,” Christabel said. “The Rebel Horde must have been a large organization.”
“Do we know if anything like this is happening on the other planets?” Gyllian asked.
“There is minimal traffic incoming to the satellite which handles interplanetary communications,” Christabel said. “Should I read it?”
“Immediately,” Gyllian said. “I want to know what the Confederation Council is doing.”
Shortly Christabel spoke.
“The Confederation Council offices were located in the Royal Province of Barbara of Portugal. The entire city of New and Improved Lisbon has been destroyed. This suggests that the Confederation Council has ceased to exist. It sent out no recent messages. The messages which are coming from the other two planets report the same general destruction as we are seeing on Marathon.”
“A very well-coordinated attack,” Gyllian murmured.
“Perhaps it has taken all this time to put such a plan in place,” Ronnie suggested. “It’s a very, very long time, but maybe it took that long to set up such a complicated plan and pass information on to the following generation.”
“Are you serious?” Gyllian asked.
“Yes, I am.” Ronnie was sure of her reasoning. “This is a civilization which figured out how to flee from the War of the Second Expansion. It coordinated moving people from one planet to a staging area on Hypatia and from there to this star system. Planning must be one of their well phoned abilities. If you think about it, the scenario Lord Stern laid out for us on how the royal children are raised and trained while maintaining the fiction of Queen Victoria and her husband points to careful planning. I doubt any resident of the Royal Province of Debussy on La Mer believes the individual they see is the old queen Victoria, but they like the consistency. There may have been economic and manufacturing constraints which needed to keep the majority of the population in such a technologically poor state, but they all agreed to do it by maintaining the fiction.”
“You girls must be hungry,” The Czarina said, coming into the lounge carrying two plates. “Sit and eat. I have given both Hollis and Hollin each a sedative. Christabel will monitor them. William is bringing coffee. Not sit down and eat.”
They did. The Czarina went back for plates for herself and Captain Kidd.
“The Fungusian Network has advised the neither of the two squadrons previously discussed are heading our way,” Captain Star Runner said. “However, something is near one of the extraction points we previously mapped.”
“Not the one inside the star system,” Gyllian said quickly.
“No. One of the outer ones.” A star map appeared on the lounge screen. Captain Star Runner had highlighted the one in question.
“Can you be any more specific?” Gyllian asked.
“Only that it is there,” Star said. “It is at the edge of my perception. My hunch is that it is a Pantheran military vehicle. That presence would be familiar enough for me to sense it.” “Well, Colonel,” Captain Kidd said, “do we wait for it or do we run?”
“Can we step into hyperspace without that ship knowing about us?” Gyllian asked.
“Cat and mouse we play then,” Captain Kidd said before Captain Star runner could reply.
“I want to know what happens but I do not want to engage the Pantheran vessel,” Gillian explained. “This vessel is not armed with weapons to do any damage to a military vessel. And besides, a military vessel could do a lot of damage to this one.”
“Not so,” Captain Star Runner said. “This is a military vehicle. The People of the Rainbow Way provided me with this ride when my own vehicle was destroyed. It is not the most current model. It does have weapons, but I am not well-schooled in how to use them nor would the People of the Rainbow Way be very pleased with me if I did. It might allow the Empire to study them and learn more advanced weaponry. Besides, I am not engineered to be a gunnery crew member.”
“But can we evacuate without detection?” Gyllian asked.
“I am preparing to do just that,” Star replied. “You do need to prepare for acceleration, including the two guests in the cargo area.”
The human beings went to work, securing Hollis and Hollin and then themselves.
“We do not have much time to evacuate,” Captain Star Runner said. “I will need to move quickly and in such a way to minimize our exposure to a vehicle coming through that particular extraction point. Stand by for acceleration.”
The run was hard. Captain Star Runner knew the limitations of human physiology. Christabel closely monitored everyone on board. The individual toleration of Private Investigator Ronnie Camberwell, Captain Gyllian Romeres Lujo, Captain William Kidd and The Czarina was known to Captain Star Runner, but the two visitors, Hollis and Hollin, were unknown quantities. The acceleration was steady, allowing time for Christabel to monitor everyone and report any indicators of stress. Being young and sedated, Hollis and Hollin tolerated the stress well. Private Investigator Ronnie Camberwell was always very sensitive to the stress. Being older, The Czarina and Captain William Kidd also were showing signs of stress. Although she would not like Captain Star Runner to know this, Star was also noticing that Captain Gyllian Romeres Lujo herself was aging.
Captain Star Runner push the ride’s acceleration to the maximum allowed by the human beings on board. Using the several planets and moons available to Star and the star itself, Star plotted a course to an insertion point out of the direct line of inquiry by the perceived other vehicle. They inserted into Mother Space before there was any indication another vehicle had extracted into normal space.
“How long do we wait here?” Ronnie asked when they reassembled in the lounge.
“And what should I tell Hollis and Hollin?” The Czarina asked. “Can I bring them up here?”
Gyllian considered her options. It would all be a shock to them, but what alternative did she have? The control center would have to be off limits to them. Captain Star Runner had been keeping to himself. He had been edgy this whole mission. Undoubtedly it was the possibility of a Pantheran encounter that kept him tied to his acceleration platform. Ronnie had visited him often. Gyllian also did not want to invade their personal space. A human stateroom was extremely small and both Ronnie and Captain Star Runner would have a difficult time having a comfortable private tet etet in the one Ronnie occupied. This ship had not been adapted for a conjugal visit.
While they waited for something to happen in the star system, they all endured Hollin’s histrionics. She cried. She screamed. She threatened. She pleaded with them to change her circumstances. She blamed them for all the terrible things which had happened on her planet. She accused them of fostering all the destruction. She threatened them with execution. She demanded that they show her the respect she deserved as a monarch. In short, she behaved very badly yet very predictably.
Gyllian said, “We know this is very difficult for you, Hollin, but I expect a person of your background and upbringing would accept the things you cannot change and set about making a life for yourself. Being aboard this ship will open up possibilities you have not even dreamed of.”
Hollis was excited to be on board a spaceship in hyperspace and to learn that there were other human beings aboard. Gyllian suspected his adjustment to his current reality would be easier superficially but might be more difficult over the long run. Hollin was emotional and would let her feelings of loss and outrage show. At last Captain Star Runner said, “The vehicle has left Mother Space.”
“Do you know what it is doing?” Hollis asked. He was breathless with excitement.
“I am preparing a probe to monitor the vehicle,” Star replied. “It will scan for the new vehicle and return with any particulars it can ascertain. When I receive that information, I will be able to prepare a more precise probe that will be able to give me more specific information.”
“Hollis, please do not ask Captain Star Runner any more questions at this time,” The Czarina instructed. “You can record your questions and ask the captain later. Starship captains are very busy people. They have to run the whole ship and right now, we are very concerned what this unknown vessel is doing near your star system.”
One of the positive things which could be said about Hollis, Gyllian thought, was that he was quite capable of following directions. He worked with the writing tools The Czarina provided and wrote many questions. Hollin, on the other hand, was bored and fidgeted as conspicuously as possible.
“Perhaps you would like some entertainment,” The Czarina said to her. “Waiting for developments can be so tedious. The cargo bay area you used earlier has a wide variety of entertainment possibilities. Let me show you some of the ones that may interest you.”
The Czarina said when she returned, “I showed her the vids dealing with current fashion in The Solar League. There are hours and hours of video. I am certain it will keep her occupied for some time.” Gyllian raised her eyebrows.
“In her position at court, I suspect knowing the latest fashion, especially the latest fashion from the Royal Province of Barbara of Portugal, was exceedingly important to her position,” The Czarina said. “She was thrilled to hear that fashion still matters.”
Ronnie laughed out loud. “Czarina, you are a classic, but I doubt either Gyllian or I would win any fashion contests. Tara Lee thought I was quite hopeless.”
Gyllian could not help smiling, both at Ronnie’s candid admission at her total lack of fashion sense and at her own indifference to fashion trends. Her dress uniform was her answer to those who insisted dressing in the latest designs was essential.
Section Thirty-Five: The Pantheran Threat Comes to the Star System
“I am deploying the probe now,” Captain Star Runner advised.
“Please show the real time images on the lounge screen,” Gyllian said.
“I am unable to do that,” Captain Star Runner replied. “This probe is not military grade. I only have plans to construct a monitoring probe.” Star Runner’s tone was icy and accusative.
Did you really think I was going to give you military grade instructions for constructing a probe you may or may not have needed to deploy, Gyllian thought. You would be selling them on the black market, hell, the open market, within a Featherote heartbeat. I would certainly like to have an entire cluster of probes out there right now but I did not dare risk it. For one thing, I do not want the Pantherans to know how advanced our technology is.
Aloud she asked, “What can you give me?”
“Positional information and some activities,” Captain Star Runner replied. “At present no vehicles are in the star system.”
“Where did they go?” Ronnie asked.
“I am searching for them now,” Captain Star Runner said. “They are not in Mother Space therefore they must be here.”
And they were, three vehicles altogether. Each one deployed to a planet so that all three Confederation planets each had a Pantheran vehicle orbiting it. Star Runner confirmed that each vehicle was a Pantheran military vehicle. The probe provided identification codes. The vehicles were traveling undisguised and openly.
“The probe’s best vantage point is Marathon,” Captain Star Runner reported. “The vehicle is retrieving messages from their satellite. The probe can detect the data transfer.”
They waited.
“The vehicle has transmitted to the satellite. I cannot read the transmission.”
Another pause.
“The vehicle is powering up an energy weapon, probably a laser-based weapon.”
Pause.
“The vehicle has destroyed both interplanetary satellites.”
“Breaking off all off world communication,” Gyllian murmured.
“The satellites would have burned up in the atmosphere in a short amount of time,” Captain Kidd observed.
“True enough,” Gyllian agreed.
Captain Star Runner said, “Energy weapons are powering up again. There are fine beams being directed at the planet.”
Gyllian bit her lip. This did not sound good at all.
“I have identified the target. It is the space port used for interplanetary travel.”
“They are isolating the planets,” Ronnie said.
“And they are eliminating all sites of manufacturing and use,” Captain Star Runner said. “There have been a total of nine pinpoint discharges of energy.”
The group in the lounge waited. Hollis sat frozen, a writing wand in his hand.
“The vehicle is moving off and joining the other two,” Captain Star Runner reported. “They appear to be rendezvousing to exit the star system.” Later Captain Star Runner said, “They are in Mother Space moving away. I am recalling the probe.”
“Is it safe to return to the star system?” Gyllian asked. “Have they detected our presence here in hyperspace?”
“I am preparing to insert into normal space,” Captain Star Runner replied. “I cannot say for certain if our presence was detected or not. I can say there was no hesitation in their trajectory coming into Mother Space and proceeding on their way.”
“Where were they going?” Gyllian asked.
“Their trajectory retraced their approach trajectory,” Captain Star Runner said noncommittally. “I have no idea where they came from and where they are going.”
That was true enough, Gyllian reflected. Star Runner had no idea where those ships had come from and where they were going. Analysis of their identification codes might tell her who they were and perhaps where Marathon and its sister planets figured into the bigger scheme of the Pantheran Empire’s master plan. To date, no human had any idea what it was.
“Can we see what the data transmitted to the satellite said,” Gyllian asked aloud.
“We need to be closer,” Captain Star Runner said. “How fast do you want to return?”
“Let’s not strap down,” Gillian decided. “I don’t think there’s any hurry.”
Captain Star Runner was obviously impatient. The acceleration of the ride hovered between one point ten and one point twelve Earth normal gravity. They all felt the increased gravity, but it was not so great as to be complained about.
“What will happen next?” Hollis asked in a small trembling voice.
“We will have to see what the message says,” The Czarina said. “Speculation would be pointless now.”
“But they destroyed the satellites and spaceships,” Hollis protested. “What are you going to do about that.”
“There is nothing we can do about it right now,” Gyllian said, trying not to be too dismissive. “The rebellions on Marathon make it impossible for anything to be rebuilt right now. In time, who can say?”
Section Thirty-Six: What the Pantheran Message Said
The message was straight forward enough. Dangerous Daniels had asked for hard precious metals in payment. The Pantherans rejected that claim outright.
Our contract contains no provision for cash payments of any kind.
The message went onto say
We have fulfilled our part of the bargain thus far.
- We have provided you with the means of communication with us.
- We have provided you with a master plan for securing each planet under your total control.
We are disappointed at the speed of planet transformation. To show our dissatisfaction, we have given you a sample of what the Pantheran Empire can do when it is displeased.
The message ended with a vague threat of Pantheran return and reprisals.
Everyone sat quietly when Christabel finished speaking.
“I should say they made a bargain with the devil,” Captain Kidd observed.
“What can we do?”
Everyone turned in surprise to Hollin. No one had expected her to contribute though she had agreed to join them. Maybe no one could look at fashion videos forever, Gyllian thought.
“I have been thinking,” Hollin said. She looked around the room for encouragement.
“Go on, dear,” The Czarina prompted. “We are all listening and want to hear what you have to say.”
Hollis made a face but a stern look from The Czarina caused him to duck his head.
“Hollis and I were trained to run The Royal Province of Debussy on La Mer,” Hollin went on after a short hesitation. “Our family has ruled there for thousands of years. We are one of the oldest ruling pairs on Marathon.”
“The oldest,” Hollis put in. “We are older than the Royal Province of Barbara of Portugal and the Principality of Telemann.”
“I do not think that matters now,” Hollin said. “Have you been reading the reports Christabel is providing? Most royals are dead or imprisoned. They will probably be dead soon or become merely figure heads. Everybody we knew is dead, seriously injured, captured or hiding out somewhere. We cannot go back to the life we had. That life is gone forever. These Pantheran people sound horrid. I want to know what we can do about it. I do not want them destroying my planet even if I do not think it is safe for you and me, Hollis, to go back there.”
“Spoken like a true queen,” The Czarina said.
Gyllian suspected The Czarina was exaggerating and suspected, too, that The Czarina did not believe her own praise. However her words made Hollin smile, just a little. Perhaps they would even give the young woman courage. She and her brother would need courage in the years to come.
Gyllian said, choosing her words carefully, “I represent human beings who live outside of the area of space where Pantherans rule,” Gyllian said. “I am not a diplomat so I cannot make binding agreements with you and Hollis. I can bring you to the people who can. We also work with human beings inside the Coalition where the Pantherans rule. That organization is called The Solar League.”
“And why do you have a Pantheran on this spaceship?” Hollis asked.
“Captain Star Runner left the Pantheran Empire,” Gyllian said. “From time to time the Alliance of Planets for whom I work hires Captain Star Runner for certain missions like this one.”
“Because he knows about Pantherans?” Hollis asked.
“No, because Captain Star Runner is what the Pantherans call a star runner, an individual who is trained to run spaceships. Captain Star Runner knows a lot about getting into and out of hyperspace which is very useful. Captain Star Runner’s AI, Christabel, who you have spoken with, is one of the best AI’s in the western spiral galactic arm.”
Ronnie put her hand over her mouth. Gyllian shot her a warning look. Gyllian was praising both Captain Star Runner and Christabel a great deal but more or less everything she was saying was true. If she said much more Captain Star Runner would ask for a raise in price for the contract. That could be difficult given the already exorbitant amount negotiated and the probable cost overruns. She always had to explain why Captain Star Runner was both absolutely necessary and why she always ran over budget when Captain Star Runner was employed.
“I want to fight them, too,” Hollis said, turning to Gyllian, “What can we do?”
Section Thirty-Seven An Alliance Ship Arrives
… “I need to speak with Dangerous Daniels,” Gyllian said. She turned to Ronnie. “I want you to come with me.”
“No way,” Ronnie said. If Gyllian thought she would leave Captain Star Runner’s ride until she had a safe and secure place to go where she would have access to her credits and and she could live in a modern city, Gyllian was deceiving herself. Ronnie would even tolerate a long enforced run on a starship before she agreed to revisit Marathon. She would never go back to 202 Green Street. She was certain about that.
At the same time, Hollis said, “I will go with you.” “You!” Gyllian said. “Why you?”
“I want to confront the man that did all this to my family and to my country,” Hollis said.
“It could be quite dangerous,” Gyllian said. She wanted to dissuade this young man from a foolish idea of setting things right. Gyllian had an entirely different plan in mind.
“Then why are you going?” Hollis asked.
“I want to make Dangerous Daniels a counter proposal,” Gyllian said. It was good practice to say your plan out loud. The others could poke holes in it and point out any errors of logic or action she had thought of.
“You want to work with that scoundrel?” Hollin demanded.
“I do not really want to,” Gyllian assured the royals. “I want him to work for human beings, not for the Pantheran Empire. He just received a threat of destruction from the Pantherans. I want to suggest he work for us and that we will protect the three planets from the Pantherans.”
“How will you do that?” The question came from an unforeseen source. It was Captain Star Runner who asked that question. “Will you place a garrison here?”
Everyone waited for Gyllian to answer the star runner. Captain Star Runner and Captain Kidd knew how difficult it would be to maintain such an outpost. There would have to be a supply line, defenses against a Pantheran attack and the very real possibility of a war breaking out to defend the three planets from annihilation. Was Gyllian willing to commit the Alliance of Planets to such a costly and difficult action?
Gyllian took a deep breath. “If the Alliance of Planets and the Solar League do not make a stand here, where will they do it?” she asked in return.
“Can you convince your government of that?” Captain Kidd asked. It was a reasonable question.
“My portfolio at the present time is protecting the Three Planets,” Gyllian said. “I think making this proposal is part of that portfolio.”
“But you have not asked for official sanction to do that yet, have you?” The Czarina asked. Her journalistic skills were rarely far from her talent to get answers to questions.
Gillian’s bluff had been called. She did not have the the authority to do what she proposed. She knew it and the other people on board the ship knew it, too.
“Captain Star Runner, can you send a priority message,” she asked.
“Certainly. I can only encrypt it with the level of encryption I have at my disposal” Captain Star Runner said. “Is that sufficient?”
“Send it on a very narrow beam to Emily Dickinson,” Gyllian said. “I will give you the wrappers. It will seem innocuous enough.”
They had to wait for a reply. Captain Star Runner parked the ship in geosynchronous orbit over Capital City. Captain Star Runner worried about setting the ship down on the planet when the situation continued to be volatile. Without the satellites, it was difficult to know what was happening. Fortunately there were radio waves Christabel could monitor.
Section Thirty-Eight Back in Capital City
Instead of a message, an Alliance warship arrived. Properly speaking, Ronnie thought, it did not arrive. It waited in hyperspace until Captain Star Runner opened an extraction point for them to enter the star system. It was a delicate maneuver as Captain Star Runner was not a tug pilot by training. Due to Captain Star Runner’s extreme skill as a star runner though, the fuchsia-colored Pantheran was able to keep the extraction point stable so that the warship could come out of hyperspace.
“I do not know why,” Captain Star Runner confided in Ronnie later, “the Terries do not invest in jump gate technology. They complain all the time about the military of The Race, but they take no responsibility at all to learn how to operate in Mother Space. Getting in and out is a basic tenant of running a star travel capable vehicle.”
Ronnie did not know the answer to that question, but she stroked the side of Captain Star Runner’s face. “It was a good thing you were here to map the coordinates and provide expertise to get the starship through,” she said.
“This is turning out to be a very profitable contract,” Captain Star Runner said in reply. “I will not undertake another one from Gyllian until I am fully compensated for this one. I will need the capital to mend fences at the Half Moon Bay Space Station.”
“Do you have a shipment that is behind schedule?” Ronnie asked.
“Not at all,” Captain Star Runner said. “I am just not there when they thought they could expect me. I do need to be reliable.”
Emily Dickinson was aboard the Alliance warship and quickly came aboard Captain Star Runner’s ride.
“How are you doing, pussy cat,” Emily Dickinson boomed in the Control Center. “Is Gyllie keeping you busy?”
“I am working per our contract,” Captain Star Runner replied. “I have mapped insertion and extraction points in a great deal of the area of this star system.”
“And are you keeping Ronnie happy?” Emily Dickinson asked.
Captain Star Runner understood Emily Dikinson very well. They had a long and at one point, intimate, relationship. “Private Investigator Ronnie Camberwell is as happy as she can be aboard a space vehicle far from her home,” Captain Star Runner said.
“Well you keep up the good work, pussy cat,” Emily Dickinson said, patting Captain Star Runner on the shoulder. “I have to talk with Gyllie.”
But Gyllian was busy conferring with the captain of the Alliance warship. Captain Trail Likoy had come in response to Gillian’s query regarding enlisting Dangerous Daniels as a counter agent and recognizing Hollis and Hollin as the legitimate spokespersons for the Three Planets.
“It is a difficult situation,” Captain Likoy Trail said. “We understand your reasoning, but the expense is great. I am empowered to grant your proposal based on my reading of the situation here.”
“I fail to understand why a warship captain has greater authority than I do,” Gyllian said. “I am a Colonel in the Ministry of Defense.”
Captain Likoy Trail shook his head. “I have never understood the brass,” he confided. “But I will be the one to set up the liaison between these planets and our government so I suppose they think I will know if it is workable.”
“I suppose that makes a certain amount of sense,” Gyllian admitted, “and I do not have anything against you personally, but I will bring this matter up with the Minister of Defense when I return to the Alliance.”
“I would do the same in your position,” Captain Likoy Trail agreed.“As for the two royals, I have been instructed to have you bring them back to the Alliance for immersion in modern society.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Gillian said. “I propose to meet with Dangerous Daniels as he is known and make the proposition I spoke of in my message. The boy, Hollis, wishes to accompany me.”
“Three of us will go,” Captain Likoy Trail said. “Daniels should know who is he is dealing with.”
So it was that the three, fully covered in impervious clothing, traveled to Marathon in Captain Likoy Trail’s shuttle.
“Now remember,” Gyllian said to Hollis, “let us do the talking.”
“And remember, young man, that you are only protected where you are clothed,” Captain Likoy Trail admonished. “Fortunately, it is still winter and we can cover most of your body without drawing attention to that fact. Your face is exposed. Be very careful.”
Both Gyllian and Captain Likoy Trail had refused to give Hollis a weapon. Both of them were armed. His lack of training with modern firearms spoke against him carrying any. Hollis had insisted on carrying a knife and Christabel had fashioned one to his specifications. Several models were fabricated until Hollis was satisfied. Christabel had made a note to request the Fungusian Network add a variety of knife patterns and background of knives to her database. Captain Star Runner heartily endorsed this though no one could imagine Captain Star Runner wielding such a weapon. Captain Star Runner, on the other hand, delighted in the idea that knives could be part of its own identity as a pirate.
The three trudged through the city. They were all shocked by the destruction. No one was out on the streets. It was snowing.
When they reached the Rocky Bluff neighborhood, the streets were still deserted but there was less destruction.
“The Rebel Horde takes care of its own,” Captain Likoy Trail muttered.
Hollis swore. He was not good at it, but he was trying to be grown up. Both Gyllian and Likoy Trail knew he was shaken when he saw the destruction of the Royal Precincts.
When they reached 202 Green Street, Gyllian produced the key Ronnie had given her.
“We go in. I deliver my message. We leave,” Gyllian said. “Nothing extraneous. No remarks from the peanut gallery either.” To underscore her meaning, she pointed at Hollis. “You are an observer only.”
“I would like to kill him,” Hollis said with a certain degree of vibrato.
“Never mind that,” Captain Likoy Trail said. “Your weapon is for defensive purposes only.” Gillian unlocked the door and push it wide.
Three people sat around the table in the center of a room off the hall, Mrs. Farnesworth, Dangerous Dan and Teddy. Gwennore was not there.
“And who are you coming into my house,” poppy Farnesworth demanded.
“I have a key,” Gyllian said. And to Dangerous Daniels, “I am Colonel Gyllian Romeres Lujo. I represent the Alliance of Planets and The Solar League.”
“And who are they when they are are home?” Teddy said. Dangerous Daniels said nothing. He just stared at them as if they would melt away from the intensity of his gaze.
“You have made a risky bargain,” Gyllian continued, still speaking to Dangerous Daniels. “The Pantherans have destroyed all your satellites, all your spaceships and your ability to construct any more of them. They have isolated you. They have no intention of playing fair with you. You have played into their paws. You are like a mouse the cat is playing with.”
Captain Star Runner would growl at her use of a cat image for Members of the Race, but Gyllian thought it would emphasize her point. After all, Teddy had seen a Pantheran face to face.
“That big cat does not scare me,” Teddy boasted. “I know how to handle him.”
“Captain Star Runner is not the Pantheran you need concern yourself with,” Gyllian said. “It is the entire Pantheran Empire you have allied yourself with and they are very dangerous.”
“I am very dangerous,” Dangerous Daniels finally spoke. “Teddy, Poppy, blow these people away.”
“With pleasure,” Mrs.. Farnesworth said, leveling her gun.
“I get the kid,” Teddy said, pointing his gun at Hollis. “One less royal to deal with. Do not cry, little boy. Die like a man.”
But they had spoken too much. Likoy Trail sliced off Mrs. Farnesworth’s head. Gyllian burned a hole in Teddy’s chest.
Dangerous Daniels dove under the table. He was, as many bullies are, a coward, depending on other people to protect him. Hollis followed him down to the floor and stabbed him through the back.
Retrieving his knife he said, “I suppose it is not honorable to stab a man in the back, but it is not honorable to make a pact with a dishonorable bunch of aliens that once before planned to annihilate us.”
He wiped the blood from his knife on Daniels trouser leg.
“Let’s go,” Gyllian said. “There may be some fail safe systems we do not know about.”
Gyllian re locked the door. Maybe that would slow the knowledge of the deaths at 202 Green Street.. They walked casually along, not drawing attention as best they could. When they were several streets away, they hurried to the shuttle. Captain Likoy Trail had left two crew members guarding the shuttle. They never saw Gwennore.
Back aboard the ship The Czarina said, “Do you think it was wise to kill them all?”
“They were not willing to negotiate,” Gyllian said. “I am hoping that by eliminating that group, a better group will emerge with which we can negotiate.”
“Will this be useful?” Hollis asked, pulling something from a pocket.
“Where did you get this?” Gyllian asked.
“It was in Dangerous Daniels trouser pocket,” Hollis said. “I noticed it when I wiped my knife.” Gillian said. “This is wonderful. I suspect there is only one.
“We can seed the satellite with messages from time to time,” Ronnie said. “When the Pantherans check it, they will think the plan is going forward.”
“An excellent idea,” Gyllian said. “I will have the experts work on this back home.”
“Speaking of home,” Ronnie said, “I think we should be on our way.”
“An excellent suggestion,” Captain Star Runner said.