Heirs at War: The Marmoros Trilogy, #2

Chapter 1 - Marmoros

Jeren stood at the top of the palace steps looking out at the early morning drizzle.  The thin rain glistened on the streets and houses of his beloved city but today he felt no joy at the sight.  Angrily he waved away the slaves who were holding a canopy above his head to keep him dry, preferring instead to feel the wetness on his cheeks in the hope that it would hide his tears.

At the foot of the steps, the royal coach waited patiently; the three Ystradian ambassadors standing beside it, huddled together under a canopy held aloft by four slaves.  Beyond the coach, the full strength of Lord David’s mercenary company was drawn up in parade order to honour the departure of Queen Rachel.  His own redcloaks, now formally established as his personal guard, lined the steps leading down to the coach and stood proudly to attention awaiting the queen.

The palace courtyard had been completely repaved, concealing the massive crater caused by the destruction of the Belsian tank but the ruined doorway behind him, still bore testament to the savagery of the attack on Rachel’s life.  That the attack had failed was due in no small measure to the man standing beside him; Lord David Held, the commander of the mercenary company and military advisor to the throne.  It had been Lord David who had caused the destruction of the Belsian attack force by calling down a blast of magical power from out of an empty sky.

Outside the walls surrounding the courtyard, a small crowd of citizens waited quietly for the spectacle to begin.  The spirit of the crowd was subdued, partly because of the weather but mostly because of the widespread knowledge of their king’s unhappiness at Rachel’s leaving.  They knew, of course, that she was a queen in her own right and that she was going to seek out and try to save her own people but many still felt a sense of bewilderment at the speed of events, coming only two days after the coronation of King Jeren.

Inside the palace, in the vast entrance hall, the rest of the guests of honour were congregating.  Every member of the council was there, along with the city officials and the ladies of the court led by Lady Falaise, Queen Mother now rather than Queen Regent.  Also there were the Benyahim family with whom Rachel had travelled on the long journey to Marmoros: Josep, Agnes, Zak and Beth.  All were gathered together to say farewell to the queen of the Ystrad.

***

The object of all this attention was, at that precise moment, tip-toeing down a side passage leading to the entrance hall, hoping fervently not to be noticed.  Reaching the end, she pressed her back against the wall and peered cautiously round the corner.  Fortunately the group nearest her all had their backs towards the passage with the exception of Izzy whose face lit up when he saw her.  Quickly she put her finger to her lips and beckoned him over.

G’morning Rachel, he began happily.  I mean, your Majesty.

Sssh, she whispered, drawing him back down the corridor.  I don’t want anyone to know I’m here.

Okay, he frowned.  But why?

Izzy, I want you to find Lady Falaise and ask her quietly if I could talk with her for a moment.  Don’t let anybody else hear you.  It’s very important that nobody else knows where I am.  Do you understand?

Oh!  It’s a secret.  That’s all right then, he said, his face brightening again as he trotted off.

When he returned a few minutes later with Falaise in tow, they found Rachel looking out from the doorway of one of the empty reception rooms.  Rachel took both of Falaise’s hands in hers and pulled her into the room.

Izzy, please wait outside and don’t let anyone else in, she said, closing the door firmly.

Rachel, my dear.  What is it?

I’m sorry, Falaise.  I didn’t know who else to turn to.  She hesitated for a second.  I’m late.

Well you shouldn’t worry about that, my dear.  You’re the queen.  Everybody will wait for you.

No...no, you don’t understand, she stammered, the colour rising in her cheeks.  I’m... late.

Oh!  Falaise stopped for a moment as the impact of the words sank in and then held out her arms to fold Rachel into an embrace.  My poor child.  Jeren?  Yes, of course it was Jeren.  Does he know?

She shook her head against Falaise’s shoulder.  You’re the first person I’ve told.

But you’re sure?

I...I think so.  It’s been over two weeks now and the last two mornings I’ve been sick as soon as I got up.

Oh, my dear.  I don’t know whether to congratulate you or feel sorry for you.  This is going to cause some complications.

I know Falaise and I’m sorry for that.  It’s going to make leaving Jeren even harder but I still have to go.  My people need their queen.

Well we’ll talk about that later but the first thing is to cancel today.  You won’t be leaving this morning.

Falaise walked to the door and flung it open to find Izzy standing there chatting to Baltur.  Baltur!  The very person.  Both of you inside now.  She ushered them in and shut the door behind them.

"Right, now I have some errands for you two.  Izzy, I want you to find Marta and ask her if she would come to my chambers and then find Lord Held and invite him as well.

Baltur, I want you to go and tell the ambassadors and the guests that Queen Rachel is indisposed and will not be leaving today.

Baltur looked swiftly at Rachel.  Are you not feeling well, your Majesty?

Don’t jump to conclusions, Falaise scolded.  Indisposed does not mean feeling ill.  She is just not leaving today.  That is all.

I beg pardon, my lady.  But what shall I tell the king?

When you see my son you may tell him that, if he knows what’s good for him, he will stay out of my sight for the rest of the morning.  We will send for him when we are ready.

You will send for the king?  I mean, yes my lady.  As you command.

And when you see Captain Jorgen, ask him to post two of his redcloaks outside the door to my quarters with orders not to let anybody in except Marta and Lord Held.  We do not wish to be disturbed.

Yes, my lady.

***

Marta was the first to arrive and knock quietly at the door.  Falaise let her in and looked quickly up and down the corridor but there was nobody else in view.

You sent for me, Falaise? Marta said as she entered.  Oh I’m sorry, your Majesty.  I didn’t realise you were here.

That’s all right, Marta.  You weren’t meant to, Rachel replied.  And please call me Rachel.

I should be honoured to.  She frowned as she looked closely at the young queen.  You look different today.  There is an air about you; a glow almost.  I think congratulations may be in order.

Rachel coloured furiously.  Oh lord.  Is it that obvious?  She sat down in one of the alcoves and hung her head.

Marta exchanged a look with Falaise as she walked across the room to sit beside Rachel and put an arm round her shoulder.

No, you don’t need to worry about that yet, she said.  It’s only because I have helped with so many births.  But it’s not the sort of thing you can keep secret for ever.

Further conversation was interrupted by another knock on the door.  Falaise opened it a crack to find David standing there with two redcloaks.

Come in, Lord Held.  She opened the door just wide enough for David to slip through.  And you two, nobody else comes through this door until I say so; not even the king.

The guards’ reply was lost as the door was firmly shut again.  David raised his eyebrows in surprise as he looked around the room and bowed in the direction of Rachel and Marta.

What’s wrong, Falaise?  What’s going on here?

David, we have a problem.  A small problem.

That brought a smile to Rachel’s lips as she stood up and walked towards them.

No Falaise.  That’s very sweet of you but you do not have a problem.  I am the one who has the small problem, my lord.

David, please.

David then.  I’m pregnant, Rachel said simply.

Oh!  I see.  He paused for a moment.  That is presumably why Marta is here then.  How long?

I’m just over two weeks late.

Okay.  Rachel, please forgive the bluntness of my next question but I know that the Ystrad are a long-lived race and that your children and babies develop over a correspondingly longer time span.  How long is a normal pregnancy for your people?

Falaise and Marta looked at each other in shock as Rachel burst into tears.

David, how could you? Falaise exclaimed.

No, Rachel sobbed.  He’s quite right to ask but the answer is I don’t know.

Both women put their arms around her but Rachel pushed them away.  No, it’s all right.  She straightened up and looked directly at David. 

I’m sorry, David but I really don’t know.  Until I met the ambassadors a few weeks ago, the only one of my people I had ever known was old Jubal.  I used to call him grandfather but he was actually an old family retainer who helped me escape from the palace all those years ago.  He taught me many things about my people and about life on Ystradis, but I don’t ever recall having a conversation with him about pregnancy.

Don’t worry, Rachel, David smiled.  We can put that to one side for now.  But before I offer you congratulations, I’m afraid my next question is going to be equally blunt.  What do you want to do about the baby?

Falaise and Marta glared at him as Rachel stammered.  W...what do you mean?

Don’t glare at me like that, please ladies.  The question has to be asked.  I’m sorry, Rachel, but at this early stage, you have the option of terminating the pregnancy.  I’m not saying that’s what you should do, but it would certainly smooth away most of the political complications.

I hadn’t even thought of that, Rachel said.  And I’m not going to think of it now.  There’s no way I’m going to give up this baby.  If I have to leave here, then I will at least take a part of Jeren with me.

I’m not sure that Jeren will be too happy about that.  Have you spoken to him?

Rachel shook her head.  He doesn’t know.

Well he’ll have to be told.  As will the ambassadors.  I’m not looking forward to that conversation.  In the meantime, please accept my congratulations.  I’m very happy for you and I will do everything I can to help with the political situation.

Thank you, David.

If you don’t need me for anything else, Falaise, then I’ll be on my way, Marta said.  Rachel here is young and healthy.  I can see no complications of that sort at the moment and I would prefer not to get involved in the politics.

Rachel gave her a hug.  Thank you, Marta.

Yes thank you, Marta, Falaise echoed.  And if that is my son I can hear shouting angrily outside the door, you may tell him to come in now.

The noise level increased dramatically as Marta opened the door.  Jeren was arguing furiously with the redcloaks who were standing impassively, looking straight ahead but with their spears crossed in front of the doorway.  Behind Jeren, the Ystradian ambassadors were nervously watching the altercation.

Right, let me pass, Marta ordered.  "And Lady Falaise says that you may let the king through but nobody else.

Now, your Excellencies.  Her majesty is well but she is occupied at present with matters of state.  She asks that you return to your quarters until she is ready to see you.  Baltur, would you please escort the ambassadors to their chambers.  Izzy, go and find Jaks and remind him that he is supposed to be looking after their Excellencies, or he’ll answer to me.

Saying that, Marta shooed the group away from the door as Jeren slipped inside.  He looked around at the occupants of the room, noting the frown on his mother’s face and the tear stains on Rachel’s.

He ran to Rachel and put his arms around her.  What’s wrong?  What have they said to you?

She gave him a fierce hug and then stepped away.  It’s nothing like that, Jeren.  It’s just that...

I’m apparently going to become a grandmother, Falaise finished.

Jeren’s jaw dropped as he looked at Rachel.  Is this true?

Yes, she nodded.  It’s early days yet but yes, I’m pregnant.

But this is wonderful.  Now you’ll have to stay.

She put her hand on his chest and pushed him back.  No Jeren.  I may have to rest a few days until the morning sickness passes but I’ll still have to go.

But you can’t travel all that distance while you’re pregnant.

Jeren, I’m having a baby, our baby.  That does not make me an invalid.  I still have a responsibility to my people.  I have to go.

Jeren looked at his mother and David in desperation.  Tell her, he pleaded.

No Jeren.  Falaise shook her head.  I would love Rachel to stay and for my grandchild to be born here but she is quite right.  A queen does have duties and responsibilities and women are far stronger than men give them credit for.  Women have been having babies for a long time now.

The only thing I would add to that, David said, is that I would like Rachel to be examined by a doctor before she leaves.  Just to make sure there are no complications.

What do you mean, complications? Jeren demanded.

Jeren, you know already that there are some differences between Rachel’s people and yourself.  They have different abilities, some of which you know about.  I just want to ensure that there are no other racial characteristics that might cause a problem for the baby.

I’ll send for a doctor immediately, Falaise said.

No I’m sorry, Falaise, but this goes way beyond the medical knowledge of any of your doctors.  Or Rachel’s for that matter.  I want to bring in somebody who has access to specialist medical knowledge on this subject.

The silence filled the room as Jeren and Rachel looked at David in surprise.  Falaise’s lips tightened as she bit back a response.  Finally with a visible effort of control, she spoke.

Right, this has gone far enough.  All of you sit down over there.  She indicated a small table in one of the alcoves.  ALL of you.

As they took their places around the table, she went on.  "There are two redcloaks outside this door to prevent anyone from entering.  Equally, if I say so, they will prevent anyone from leaving until I get some answers.

"Now there were some things that I was prepared to overlook because I knew that Rachel was leaving and, while I was sad about that, there was the hope that things would return to normal afterwards.  But circumstances have changed.  Rachel, you are carrying my grandchild and I cannot, therefore, ignore these questions in my head any longer.

Jeren, I assume all this happened when you were hidden away together in that mysterious grey dome.

Well yes, that‘s when it started, mother, Jeren admitted.  But we’ve been seeing each other ever since, whenever we can.  We love each other.

"I’m sure that’s what you believe but all I am seeing at the moment is an excess of passion.  There is more to love than passion but that, I’m afraid, may be a lesson quite painful for you to learn.

"So let me turn to you, Lord David Held.  You are not from this region.  You are not from Gernia, despite your name.  You claim to have magical ability; you have access to weapons, soldiers and now apparently medical resources that are beyond our comprehension.  Who are you?  Who sent you here?  And where do you come from?

And then you, Rachel.  You are a sweet child and Jeren loves you, as do I.  But the Lyenar are a much travelled folk, and I have made extensive enquiries among them and all their contacts.  They are all agreed.  There is no place, no city or country called Ystradis.  Nor any place called Belsia.  If such places existed, we would have heard of them and almost certainly been there to trade.  So, who are you, my dear?  Where are your people?  And where exactly is this place called Ystradis?

Chapter 2 - Ystradis

The small group of fighters crouched down in the comforting shelter of a cluster of rocks as the Belsi patrol passed twenty paces in front of them.  Nervously a couple of them touched their helmets as if checking that no stray thoughts were escaping.  The patrol had a ‘sniffer’ with them.  Every squad seemed to have a sniffer with them now, trained to detect the slightest telepathic emission.  It was, Chaqi reflected, becoming much more difficult for the resistance to co-ordinate these attacks with the Belsi having so many sniffers available.  They waited as the patrol passed by but no alarm was raised.

As the guards disappeared into the distance, Chaqi led the group down to the edge of the floodlit strip separating them from the boundary fence.  Ahead there were thirty paces of soft sand to slow them down and leave a visible trail of their passing.  The only break in the sand was the solid pathway the patrol had used, running parallel to the fence.  The fence itself was twice his height with razor wire, high voltage power and breach detection strands running through it.  Every fifty paces a lighting tower rose above the top of the fence with floodlights and motion detectors.

He turned to the group and signalled them to make their final weapons checks.  To right and left he knew two other groups were going through the same routine, awaiting his signal.  The flanking groups would be diversions, attacking a lighting tower and forcing a breach in the fence before withdrawing to the safety of the hills.  His was the only group that would actually be going inside the compound and, he prayed, coming out again afterwards.

The seconds ticked down on his communicator as he received an answering nod from each of them; Rhamani, Osman and the fiercest of them all, his beloved wife Anise.  Neither of them had fully recovered from the death of their only son, killed by the Belsi in one of their punitive raids.  As the heads of a small farming community, they had already been helping the Resistance but, since that incident, they had gone underground and transformed the local resistance group into the most effective on the planet.

His face tightened as the memory of their argument last night surfaced momentarily.  Anise’s hatred of the Belsi was implacable and sometimes led her into situations with no regard for her personal safety.  He had wanted to protect her and tried to persuade her to go with one of the diversionary groups, but she had insisted on joining his group and eventually got her way.  She could be very insistent at times.

The timer reached zero and he pressed the button that sent the ‘Go’ signal to the other groups.  He patted Osman on the shoulder as the youngster set off at the best pace he could make across the soft sand, his pack heavy with the demolition charges for the base of the lighting tower.  Rhamani and Anise raised blast rifles to their shoulders and took out the twin floodlights at the top of the tower but the sirens were already wailing as the motion detectors picked up Osman’s movement.

In the distance he could hear more sirens sounding as the other groups began their attacks.  They waited impatiently as Osman placed the charges on the tower and started to run back towards them.  He barely reached halfway when there was a tremendous explosion behind him.  The blast lifted him off his feet and threw him through the air to land face down in the sand, just short of the rocks where they waited.

"Damn, Chaqi thought.  The fuses were too short again."

Rhamani headed for the ruins of the tower to cut any remaining strands of wire and widen the gap as he and Anise each took one of Osman’s arms and lifted him to his feet.  The young fighter looked dazed and coughed out a bit of sand as he shook his head to clear it.  Chaqi breathed a sigh of relief as the familiar smile spread across Osman’s face.  He turned to survey the destruction of the tower as twin explosions to either side marked the success of the diversionary attacks.

Their tower had fallen inside the compound and the force of the explosion had destroyed the fence for five paces on either side with a deep central crater where the base of the tower had been.  Rhamani was already inside the compound, kneeling with his assault rifle ready as he searched for any sign of approaching guards.  They had to half carry Osman towards the fence for the first few paces until his legs recovered sufficiently to start working on their own.  Then they moved quickly through the breach to join Rhamani.

In front of them was a jumble of low, wooden storage huts, some with stacks of crates and other storage containers outside.  Once they were away from the fence and into that maze, they would be relatively safe for a while.  Chaqi looked at Rhamani and got an answering nod.  He led the way to the nearest hut with Anise and Osman close behind while Rhamani covered the rear.  They rounded the corner of the hut and disappeared into the shadows as flitters started to appear from all directions, converging on the attack sites.

Patterns of laser fire lit up the sky as the guards frantically searched for intruders, firing nervously at any shadow that moved.  They ran deeper into the storage area, dodging around piles of crates and randomly taking any direction that led away from the fence.  As they rounded the last hut, they caught their first sight of the main target; a fat bellied freighter sitting in the middle of the landing field in a blaze of light.

Normally the output from the mines was taken by lighters up to the freighters waiting in orbit around Ystradis but this particular ship must have suffered some sort of systems failure and been brought down for repair.  They could see teams of technicians swarming over the length of the freighter even as the giant ore carriers rolled up to deposit their loads into its hold.  The Belsi were taking no chances with the security of the ship and the area for a hundred paces around was lit up as though it was daylight.  On the boundary of the light, they could make out squads of guardsmen with weapons pointing towards the disturbance at the fence.

Chaqi led them back behind one row of huts before turning towards the secondary objective; the power substation for the landing field.  That had to be disabled before they had any chance of getting near the freighter.  There was a slight breeze blowing across the field and he led them to a point directly upwind of the substation.  Removing his pack, he took out four small rockets and handed them out.

The rockets resembled giant fireworks more than military weapons.  They were designed to rise to a height of thirty paces before breaking open and discharging their load of chaff, long strips of metallic foil, that would drift down with the breeze onto the exposed conductors and terminals of the substation, shorting out the entire installation.  They placed the rockets, lit the fuses and Chaqi had the team moving again before the rockets even fired.  If the chaff did its job, the effect would be obvious across the whole landing field.

Behind them as they ran, there was a series of soft but still audible ‘pops’ as the chaff was released.  He threw a quick glance in the direction of the guardsmen and saw heads turning towards the direction of the sounds.  The team skidded to a halt in the shelter of a stack of containers and waited to see the outcome.  The results were spectacular.  Giant sparks and flashes lit up the area around the substation even as sections of the lighting around the field began to shut down.

There was an explosion inside the substation as one of the transformers burst into flames and the remaining field lights all died together.  Aside from the transformer fire, the only visible lights now were the searchlights and laser beams from the flitters searching around the breaches in the fence.  Softly cursing the fire which backlit the area behind them, Chaqi swiftly led the team around the perimeter of the field to approach their target from a different angle.  Already there were sporadic bursts of laser fire from various points as nervous guardsmen fired at anything resembling a moving shadow.  Several of the flitters abandoned the search at the boundary fence to head towards the blazing substation.

The team’s luck ran out as they rounded the corner of the final hut.  Parked squarely in front of them was a ground car with a squad of six guardsmen standing in the open cargo bay at the back of the truck.  Fortunately the attention of the guardsmen was mainly directed towards the fire but one of them caught a movement out of the corner of his eye and turned to face them.  Anise’s reactions were the quickest.  The young guardsman died with a hole in his chest, even as the yell was forming on his lips.

The reactions of the remainder of the squad varied from shock to panic.  Two of the most alert dived over the far side of the car, weapons already coming up ready to return fire.  Two looked down at the falling body of their comrade for a split second too long and died where they stood while the last guardsman made the unfortunate error of diving for cover on the nearside of the car.  He survived a few seconds longer than the others, but only because the team went to ground themselves and rolled apart from each other before picking their next target.

Chaqi ducked as a laser pulse zipped over his head to destroy one of the crates in a stack behind him.  The rest of the crates came crashing down and he took advantage of the distraction to make another quick roll to his left and open up an angle behind the car.  He could hear shouting in Belsi coming from the far side of the car and guessed that one of the guardsmen was summoning help.

Quickly he thumbed the button on his own communicator and whispered into the throat mike.  Move up in twos and try to take one of them alive.

He aimed his rifle at the rear of the ground car and fired off a quick burst as he sprinted forward.  A helmeted head briefly appeared and then vanished in a shower of sparks as a laser pulse flashed past Chaqi and melted that corner of the car.  He rounded the car to find one of the guards rolling on the ground trying to beat out the smouldering sparks on his combat jacket.  The other guardsman was still yelling into his communicator but stopped and slowly raised his hands as Chaqi poked him in the chest with the assault rifle.  The one on the ground made a grab for his own rifle but was dissuaded from using it as Rhamani ran up and kicked him hard in the face.

The rest of the team appeared round the far end of the car.  One dead out there and three in the back of the truck, Anise reported.

Take their weapons and collars and dump the bodies out of the car, Chaqi ordered.  And find me a helmet and one of the least damaged uniforms.

He jerked his head in the direction of the guardsman still lying on the ground.  How’s that one doing?

He’ll live, Rhamani grunted.  Might be eating soup for a while though.

Damn!  Take his rifle and collar and tie him up.  We’ll take him with us anyway.

Chaqi turned back to the one still standing with his hands up by the side of the car and switched into fluent Belsi.  I guess that leaves me with you.  Take your collar off.

Collar?  The man looked puzzled and then terrified as he put his hands to his throat.  No, please.  I beg you.  Not that.

He dropped to his knees and looked pleadingly at Chaqi.  I’m begging you, please.

Chaqi hardened his face.  Either you take it off or my friend here will, he said indicating Rhamani.  And he won’t be so gentle.

With trembling fingers, the man unhooked a kind of amulet from around his neck and held it out.  Chaqi took it and stuffed it into a belt pouch.

Now you and I are going to have a little talk, he said, starting to unfasten his helmet.

No, Chaqi, you can’t, Anise worried.  It’s too dangerous.  The sniffers will pick you up as soon as your helmet’s off.

"I think they’ve got a pretty good idea of where we are anyway after that little laser display.  We’ve got to get away from here fast.  I don’t have time to play around.

Osman, find out if this car still works.

He took his helmet and gloves off and placed his hand against the face of the man still kneeling in front of him.  The guardsman shuddered and then went still.  After what seemed like an age to the watching team, Chaqi pulled his hand back and looked round.

Okay, we go.  The car?

It’s got a few holes in it but the motor’s fine, Osman reported.

Good.  Our friend here will drive and I’ll ride up front alongside him.  Where’s that uniform?

He took the proffered uniform and shrugged it on over his own kit.  Right, the rest of you in the back and keep your heads down.

He stuck the Belsi helmet on his head and pulled the trembling guardsman to his feet.  You drive.  No lights.  I’ll be right beside you.

What about the other one? Rhamani asked.

Bring him along.  I don’t want him telling anyone which way we went.

There’s another way of preventing that.  Rhamani indicated the combat knife strapped to his thigh.

No!  Keep him alive for now.  We may have a use for him.

The guardsman backed the ground car up and headed in the direction Chaqi indicated; further around the perimeter away from the recent fight and even further from the still blazing substation.  The moon was up but hidden behind a bank of clouds, so they had to drive cautiously.  Even so, they had to take emergency avoiding action a couple of times as obstacles suddenly loomed in front of them.  Eventually, Chaqi signalled a halt in the lee of a largish building.

He opened the team’s comms channel.  Okay, here we go.  Weapons check everybody but keep your heads down until I tell you.

Chaqi looked across at the driver.  Put the lights on and head straight for the freighter.  Stop if we’re challenged and don’t forget the password.

The car swung round the corner and headed out across the field, moving faster now that it could use its lights.  Away to his right, Chaqi could see a flitter hovering over the area where they had captured the ground car but it did not appear to make a connection between the bodies on the ground and the brightly lit vehicle racing across the field.  Ahead of them a temporary gun emplacement appeared in the lights of the car and two heavily armed guardsmen stepped into view to wave them down.  Behind the wall of sandbags, a large and rather ugly looking weapon swivelled to point directly at them.

One of the guardsmen stood directly in front of the car while the other approached the driver.  Code of the day? he challenged.

The driver stared straight ahead without replying.

Code of the day? the guardsman repeated, raising his rifle.  Chaqi prodded the driver.

Three... Three Sapphire Horsemen, he stammered.

Okay, the guardsman looked relieved as he lowered his rifle.  You’d better not forget that tonight.  What’s going on over there anyway?

Terrorists, Chaqi replied smoothly.  Breached the fence and blew up the substation.  One of our patrols got them a few minutes ago.  They’re just searching for any survivors now.  We’ve been sent to reinforce the guard on the loading dock, just in case.

Yeah well, where’s our relief?  We should have been stood down an hour ago.

Dunno, mate.  There’s a lot of folks over there chasing shadows at the moment.  Best stand fast until somebody remembers you.

Thanks a lot.  Okay, let ‘em through.

The other guardsman stood to the side as Chaqi prodded the driver again and the car started to roll forward.

Wait up, the first guardsman shouted.  I forgot to check the back.

Put your foot down, Chaqi ordered the driver.

Okay team, he spoke into the throat mike.  Take them down.  And somebody take that bloody cannon out.

Fortunately, the gun emplacement was a semicircle of sandbags facing outwards from the freighter so, once the car started moving, they had an unrestricted field of fire into the back of the post.  The two guardsmen by the roadside were completely exposed and went down quickly but there was some return fire from the guard post as they worked to bring the big cannon to bear.

Kill the lights, Chaqi ordered.  And bring it round to the left, he added as he spotted one of the big ore carriers lumbering across the field.

The little car swung round the far side of the ore carrier just as the cannon fired.  The blast took out one of the giant containers on the back of the transporter sending a shower of rocks high into the air.  Some of these came down on top of the car as it slowed to keep pace with the carrier.  Rocks the size of a man’s head bounced off the roof of the cab and Chaqi heard a cry of agony come over the comms link from the team in the exposed back.

Who’s hit? he demanded.

He felt a surge of relief as the voice that answered was that of Anise.  It’s Osman.  A rock landed on his leg.  I think it’s broken.  And the guardsman’s gone.  He took one smack on the head.

Okay.  Take care of Osman and tell Rhamani to lose the body.  We’ve lost the element of surprise now anyway.

The cannon had not fired again while they were sheltered behind the ore carrier but the explosion had attracted the attention of the guards on the loading dock and a pattern of laser fire was now playing around the little ground car.  The carrier was heading straight for the loading dock and provided no cover against the fire from that direction.  A laser pulse hit full on the front of the car and the driver beside him shuddered as Chaqi made a decision.

Sorry guys.  We’re pulling out.  We can’t get any closer.  It’s suicide.

He leaned over and opened the driver’s door, pushing the hapless guardsman out of the car.  Then he slid across into the driver’s seat and swung the car around as another pulse hit the open door and blasted it off its hinges.  He felt some splinters from the door jab into his leg and he forced himself to ignore the pain as he steered a zigzag course away into the welcoming safety of the darkness.

They were headed back towards the guard post that had intercepted them on the way in.  It was too dark for him to make out the direction in which the cannon was pointing and, he fervently hoped, equally too dark for the guards to make out the approaching car.

Heads up team.  When we stop, there will be hostiles to the right of the car.

Closer now, he could see the ugly snout of the cannon start to turn towards them but by then, it was too late.  Savagely he swung the car to the left and skidded to a halt right by the back of the guard post.  A flurry of laser fire erupted from the back of the car and just as quickly, died away.  There had only been two guardsmen left manning the cannon after their previous assault.

He leapt from the car and ran to the cannon as Anise and Rhamani joined him.  There’s no way we can get close enough to plant the charges so let’s see what we can do with this little baby before we leave.

The freighter was lying on its side to facilitate access for the swarms of technicians.  It was supported by an anti-grav cradle powered partly by generators embedded in the landing field and partly by the ship’s own generators.  The field generators had obviously failed when the substation went down but the internal ship’s generators were still holding the freighter in place.

"If we can take out the ship’s generators or maybe even the fusion reactor itself, the cradle will collapse and the ship will hit the ground hard.  At the least, it will buckle some plates and maybe damage the landing pad.  At best, we may do some serious damage to the ship’s power train