Arnica Read online

  She quickly adjusted the view to a less threatening magnification.

  "Unidentified ship, identify your registry and purpose!" a deep voice ordered.

  Vanstar ran a security check on the voice. A name and face appeared on their screen. "It's Emperor's Last Chance, Commander." Vanster glanced at Alexandra, waiting for her order.

  "If you identify yourself, we will return the compliment," Alexandra returned.

  There was a moment of silence. "Lady Harriet, if it is you, would you care to mention a thing or two that identifies you to me?"

  "Mack, I can say some pretty awkward things about you and Hadrie as kids, but I would rather spare you the embarrassment. It would be much easier to turn on your view screen so we can see each other."

  The figure that appeared on their monitor was that of a man much older than what Alexandra remembered. For a moment, she wondered if her brother looked as old, for she had not seen an IT, Image Transfer, of him for many years.

  Standing next to Mack Mcarn was a man she had not met personally, but had a mixed review of credentials in GCFC space, Rear Admiral Mora. She wondered how the admiral got the prestigious commission to travel beyond known borders with not the best of record.

  Brigadier General Mack Mcarn stared into the steady green malachite eyes of a stranger. The voice was vaguely familiar. The RTI on the ship's screen was that of a mature woman. He had last seen Harriet, daughter to the late Awenita of the Isles, when Harriet was fifteen stan years. Her family was vacationing on the lakes at Valowenda and he was invited to join them. He had finished his first tour of duty and was between deployments. She had a year more to go in her schooling at Breadon, an exclusive school with a no nonsense curriculum. His close friend since childhood was Hadrie, her cousin.

  Her parents died in a boating accident when she was an infant of three stan years, and Lady Laura, Hadrie's mother, adopted her sister's children - Harriet and a younger brother Acar. Acar, he remembered, had died in a suspicious accident. Hadrie had oftentimes remarked that Harriet felt more like his real sister than cousin. He was troubled when she had enlisted in the military academy. He felt she should have returned to her shamanistic studies.

  Mack Mcarn found the person returning his gaze was more animated than the computer image of her in a Spartan captain's uniform with her left side covered in battle ribbons. It was taken a few weeks before her last deployment which caused her to lose her faith in the GCFC's military command, resign her commission, and leave GCFC

  space. She left behind a stink that cleaned out the entire corrupted central military command center of officers and staff.

  So, this is Lady Harriet grown up. He resisted the impulse to stroke his bearded chin, or scratch it in perplexity. What was she doing here?

  Bright orange hair curled about her face in damp ringlets, with the longer strands tied behind her head. She did not wear the traditional clan tattoo across her cheek.

  After Captain Lady Harriet resigned her commission and left GCFC space, few knew what she did for the next seven or eight years. He suspected Hadrie knew. He would not let her disappear, especially not after her experience as a prisoner of war.

  His eyes moved to the woman that was at her side. She also wore a workout uniform, clinging damp to her body, with a forehead tie to keep her hair out of her face.

  Apparently, they had interrupted a work out. That was good. It meant they fared well on their recovery from sleep. He recognized Megan as an operative for Naboth's Vine. He felt somewhat relieved that Lady Harriet had not come alone. But why was she here?

  Hadrie would be having a fit if he knew she was this far from home…and in a ship that was showing registry to Alan Fermin. Alan was responsible for an attack on Lady Harriet that nearly killed her when she was still a cadet.

  She certainly had a run of ill luck for a while, he thought regretfully.

  He bowed slightly. "Lady Harriet."

  "If you want to be formal, General, I go by Commander Alexandra Harriet Montran of the Collective's Centurion flag ship, Ziggy. Rear Admiral JoCastao is my CO."

  Her intention was to inform the two officers on Emperors that she was not subject to their orders. Alexandra shot a glance toward Vanstar and raised an eyebrow in her direction. "Brigadier General Mack Mcarn and Rear Admiral Mora. Greetings Admiral, I didn't mean to ignore you. This is Lt. Meagan Vanstar from the Sisterhood, who has been

  given temporary assignment to me." She saw tensing around both men's mouth. They got her message, and they did not like it.

  "Lady Harriet," Mcarn started again, "perhaps you can tell me why you are in a ship registered to the Fermins, and so far from home?"

  "It was Alan's ship, and though we are the only two on it, it's stuck on autopilot heading for his fortress or so the computer says. We can't disengage it's program nor leave this ship. If you interfere with it's flight path, it will self-destruct with us aboard."

  "Well, since you're heading there, you need to know he's got an army that's barracked there. Eight months ago, we mounted a major attack on the castle stronghold.

  We got inside and sacked the place. We intended to leave them with nothing from our part of the galaxy but the walls. Most weapons we have don't work on this planet anyway. His soldiers wear black clothing. The locals call them the Dark Soldiers. These soldiers have formed a working relationship with outlawed groups on the planet. This partnership is called the Black Alliance. At present, the DS are moving from the castle fortress to one inside of a mountain, better defended, and more difficult to pinpoint exits.

  We've been keeping an eye on them while we wait for Alan's arrival, and hope for reinforcements for our forces. We've lost a large number of crew from military skirmishes and an illness we can't find a cure for."

  "What are the symptoms of this illness?"

  "Upset stomachs, headaches, and some fall into a deep sleep. The only thing we can do is put them in SPs until we get home to a better equipped infirmary."

  Vanstar glanced at Commander Montran.

  This complicates our job, they thought.

  "How many dead?" Alexandra asked.

  "Oh. No one died. But what good are our forces if they fall into a sleeping trance?" Admiral Mora demanded. "I'd rather them die in a decent skirmish than fall asleep seeing no action!"

  An awakward silence fell between the two ships as Alexandra figured out what the problem was between Emperors and the authorities on Arnica. The expression on Mack's face confirmed her appraisal.

  "Would you want in the castle, General?"

  "Yes, if you can give us access. Our orders are to capture and secure Alan Fermin's army, and remove whatever items they brought. We've half our assignment completed. The sooner we can clean up this lot, the faster we can return home. It's been a long two years."

  "Lieutenant, can you transmit them the plans of the castle?"

  Vanstar moved her hands over the control panel to select and send; however a bleep sounded. "No go, Commander. Security."

  "Alright, General, Admiral, there you have it. We did find a back door large enough for a squad to file in. It's thirty four degrees out to 4-0-4. We'll signal when we have the door opened."

  "You'll be coming on the other side of the planet in two minutes. The DS will track you from an array we have yet to locate," the admiral said. "The planet authorities will also be aware of your presence. We haven't learned much about their technology, except that nothing we have works. The various life forms on the planet will look similar to what we have on our side of the galaxy, but don't let looks fool you. There is something different about them…" Something different about everyone on that planet, his unspoken thought was. "As soon as you're secured planet-side, we'll bring you both aboard. It's best to keep your stay on the planet short and interaction with the population as brief as possible."

  "Evanstar, did you catch that message?"

  "He is upset with what he cannot control."

  "I believe he thought about my message and d
ecided to bring me into line. I havemy own orders and it doesn't involve getting caught up in his issues."

  Alexandra could feel Vanstar's amusement at the power play. It was a relief they both would be saved that fate. As long as she made the decisions, she was not going to be drawn back into GCFC politics.

  "I don't like the idea of you being dropped in there but we don't have a choice,"

  General Mcarn said.

  Alexandra felt like rolling her eyes. He was treating her as if she were a child which firmed up her resolve to not reconnect with them once they were planetside. "Now Mack, do I look suicidal to you?" she asked softly.

  "Milady, I don't know why you're out here with only one soldier to protect you.

  At face value I would say yes." General Mcarn abruptly stopped speaking and sent a warning sign to Alexandra.

  They were under surveillance by the Black Soldier's satellite. Trojan Horse established a communication link with someone on the planet in code. Ship diagnostics began as the customary docking reports were prepared so any needed repairs would be identified. Bots were released for cleaning, and air purifiers blew out scented air.

  "Since our technology doesn't work on this planet wipe out anything that will prove to help Alan's soldiers." She paused, "See if you can dump information on the planet the probe picked up into the handhelds. They're small enough to hide and they aren't weapons. Disable the ship but not so that should we need a backup ship TrojanHorse is out of the question . We have enough time, so I'm going to grab a quick shower, and change, but not into local costume yet. I don't want Empersor's troops to know yet that we've other orders."

  Vanstar's hands moved over the controls and found there were no safeties that blocked transfer of information to the HRs Alan had on the ship.

  Thirty minutes later they met back on the command deck with their travel packs.

  Alexandra tapped in a command for a view of their destination. A screen came up of their landing site. It was night with lights shinning in the courtyard with lines of soldiers in black uniforms waiting.

  "A platoon. I wish we knew exactly how many he sent here, or how many are left," Alexandra said.

  "It's not in the database, Commander."

  "We still have the advantage."

  The ship maneuvered into a landing position, then settled on its struts. The two were already squeezed into a side storage unit that could be used to exit directly below the ship. The thrusters shut down, and the lighting in the ship changed. Both women wore goggles that adapted to the light or lack of.

  "Now." Alexandra wanted to escape before the noise of the ship died out, and the dust it created settled.

  Vanster rolled out, just inches from the hard packed surface, and flattened out.

  The glow from the bright lights shining into the compound shadowed their side of the ship. However, it was not dark enough to prevent a guard, had one been posted, to see them.

  Alexandra's contact with the ground had her body shivering with the sudden energy that vibrated through her body. She crawled out from under the belly of the ship and leaning against the bulkhead she studied the ramparts that should have had guards posted. Standing she could feel an energy wave push her against the ship. It was like an energizer, clearing her senses and heightening her sensitivity to everything around her.

  Evanstar steadied her.

  Alexandra shook her head to clear it then refocused on what was around them. At first she thought she was seeing things than realized what was around her was real…sort of.

 

  "Clear," Vanster whispered.

  Vanstar's voice called her back to their mission. Alexandra pat her shoulder and Vanstar rose, sliding along the side of the ship, watching for any soldier that may come around to their side. Alexandra made a dash into the closest darkened entrance way with Vanstar on her heels. They headed further into the castle. Dark apparitions were everywhere, parting to let them pass as they moved deeper into the darkness. Footsteps in front of them forced them to detour down a staircase.

  There was an overpowering stench that wafted over them. Alexandra turned to Vanstar and signed to her. It smelled like an occupied dungeon. Images from her own experience as a POW crowded Alexandra's thoughts. She swallowed a few times, willing her stomach not to retch and her present surroundings not to recede.

  Evanstar's touch to her mind calmed her.

  "I will not leave until those in the cells are freed."

  Vanster looked at her and gave her an affirmative nod.

  They moved further into the fortress, using the HRs to guide them to where they could access the passageways behind the rooms. In old castles the passageways were primarily used by the cleaning crew to access the rooms without running into hall traffic.

  Castle corridors were busy from early morning to sundown.

  Removing her goggles to get another view of what was around her, Alexandra blinked a few times at the formless energy in front of her. It was Evanstar. Turning her head to the side she could see other dark shadows moving around, not all with malevolent intent.

 

  Alexandra held her breath for a moment as a new sensation vibrated up her legs.

  A ley line that felt like it was working it's way to returning to its natural flow trembled.

  An earthquake was in the making, she thought.

 

  "Commander, we need to move on," Vanstar reminded her. Vanstar turned for a moment to listen.

 

  They resumed their search. To both their relief nothing challenged their passage.

  "A door," Vanstar whispered relieved.

  Alexandra could feel Vanstar's discomfort from all the unseen activity around them. She sent a protection spell her way.

  Vanstar cautiously released the door latch. Shapes moved to the door through a swirling florescent mist. The figures were dressed in the familiar chameleon clothing of CFSG ground troops.

  A short dark haired man stepped forward, his face covered in camouflage grease wearing NVGs. He was stopped suddenly with Vanstar wrapping an arm around his neck and using his body to block the doorway. She checked his badge and then released him.

  The young man stepped to the side and nodded at Lt. Vanstar as if giving her approval then turned to Alexandra. "I'm Lt. Ruben Mcarn, Lady Alexandra."

  "We need to be quick while we still have the opportunity," Alexandra said.

  He turned to watch his group that was filling up the tunnel as quietly as possible.

  Alexandra tapped Vanstar on the shoulder to lead.

  Lt. Vanstar led with Alexandra behind her, and Lt. Mcarn followed with his group. At each doorway that led into the castle's living space, two soldiers peeled off.

  They slowed as voices coming from somewhere ahead of them were raised in anger.

 

  Alexandra motioned to Mcarn. She pulled out her reader showing him a layout of the castle. She then marked where the troops were.

  Lt. Mcarn nodded. Lt. Mcarn gave hand signals to his group and the remaining soldiers moved forward.

  Alexandra pointing to the diagram that she marked as where she was headed. Lt.

  Mcarn took a deep breath about to argue when Alexandra handed him her HR and moved off.

  At the staircase to the cells, Vanstar once more took the lead. The repugnant smell got worse as they moved down. The lighting was just enough to see shadows. Alexandra knew from her own experience, that a muted light kept on all the time, disorientated prisoners, and furthered the mental breakdown of the will. Small confined rooms, stifling air quality whe
re shallow breaths were practiced, and the smell of waste matter also counted in breaking down a person.

  Thin light beams swept the area.

  Vanstar studied it for a few minutes then turned to Alexandra. She motioned that she would go and see what was in the cells. Alexandra hesitated, wanting to do it herself, but deciding quickly Vanstar was better qualified. She also picked up on why Vanstar chose to go, saving her the experience of revisiting a place that would surely give her nightmares. Alexandra nodded, grateful.

  Vanstar moved off into the darkness, while Alexandra monitored her post by laying a palm on the wall of the building. The Sha'Kar's form overlapped hers, giving Alexandra a more intense reading of what energy was touching the walls.

 

  The sound of fighting came echoing down the passageway. Alexandra went to see what was keeping Vanstar. Peering in one of the cells that was opened, Alexandra hesitated, fighting the images of her past that overlapped with the present. Again Evanstar intervened.

  "I thought I had rid myself of these flashbacks."

  Vanstar started at Alexandra's presence. "Helgas moon, Commander!"

  "We've got to get out of here." Alexandra sized the group up and determined the three men could make it on their own. Vanstar was carrying a woman that looked the worst for wear.

  "Is this the lot?"

  "Yes, Commander."

  Alexandra led them to the guards' room at the top of the stairs. She was not expecting anyone to be there. The door opened easily. Scanning the room quickly she noted an empty weapons rack, table with an unfinished game, food on the table, and empty bunks against the wall. It did not appear to be booby-trapped.

  "Clear," she whispered to Vanstar.

  From the floor plans of the building, there was a passage behind the weapons rack that led to where they had let Mcarn and his soldiers in.

  Vanstar laid her burden on one of the cots, and went to inspect the cabinet alongside of the weapons rack. The prisoners helped themselves to the food on the table.

  Inside the cabinet were well cared for swords, knives, and spears. There were no weapons from their side of the Galaxy.