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  Sage wanted to be brutally honest with her. “At this point, Noojin, there is no ‘safely.’ This situation that exists here, it’s going to cost lives all the way around. And some of them will be your people’s.”

  Noojin looked up at him. “You know that because you’ve been in similar circumstances on your planet when you were a boy.”

  Sage didn’t know what to say. He hadn’t discussed his life on Sombra de la Montaña with Noojin or Jahup. He wasn’t prepared to discuss that life now.

  “The Quass told me what you said about your time on the mountain on your world.” Noojin pressed her lips together. “I wanted to hate you for taking Jahup away from me. She wanted me to understand you.”

  “I didn’t take Jahup away.”

  “I know, but I wanted to blame you. Jahup never really knew his father. His father was a good man, but he was gone too early. Jahup has always missed him.” Accusation blazed in the girl’s eyes. “Jahup had made his peace with that. Then you came here and he saw you fighting people he despised, winning against them and the odds. In no time at all, he wanted to be like you.”

  “That wasn’t my choice.”

  She laughed at him, but tears still fell. “Of course it wasn’t your choice. It couldn’t be. If you’d tried to influence Jahup, he would have made fun of you and gone back to hunting. That was where he should have been. Hunting. With me. Not in the street where he could get hurt.”

  Sage looked at her steadily. “You were in the street this morning too.”

  Wiping tears away, Noojin nodded. “I made a mistake. I let myself be weak when I heard that he was in the sprawl. I only got back this morning, and the stories about Jahup and your team taking down the weapons suppliers was all anyone would talk of. I had to see him.”

  “If you hadn’t been there, Jahup might have gotten killed.” Sage paused, letting that sink in. “From what I saw on the vid, a lot of people might have gotten killed. Maybe you don’t believe it right now, but you did the right thing.”

  She took a shuddering breath. “I just want Jahup to be okay. I want him healthy and strong and—” Her voice broke and she couldn’t talk anymore. Slowly, she leaned into Sage’s shoulder. He dropped an arm across her back and held her.

  THIRTEEN

  Compartment 683-TMOP HQ

  (Terran Military Offplanet Headquarters)

  Space Station DSC-24L19

  Loki 19 (Makaum)

  LEO 331.9 kilometers

  1243 Hours Zulu Time

  Whitcomb blanched as Quass Leghef’s words registered. “You want asylum?”

  Caught at first by surprise, Halladay could only watch as the general turned apoplectic. Then Halladay had to stifle a smile. The Quass was nothing less than spectacular as a politician.

  Leghef sat calmly in her chair. “Yes. I want asylum. For my people. As is provided in the Articles we signed with the Alliance when permission was given to build your fort. Your government agreed to that, and I’m going to hold them to that.”

  Still trying to catch up to the surprise, Whitcomb swiveled his gaze toward Halladay. “Did you know about this?”

  Halladay was as stunned as the general looked, but he was recovering quickly. As usual, Quass played things close to her vest. He would never have thought she would make the request. Many of the Makaum people had already taken to space, but most of them wanted to stay onplanet. “No sir. I didn’t know about the oversight committee’s decision to pull out of Makaum either.”

  “The colonel did not know I was going to invoke that right, General.”

  Whitcomb regarded Leghef under thick brows. “That ‘right,’ Quass Leghef. I don’t know of any such—”

  “If I may, General,” Halladay interrupted smoothly as he pulled it up on his PAD, “the right she’s referring to is located within the Articles written for the arrangement the Terran military has with the Makaum people, through its governing body. It was one of the codicils in the contract the Alliance signed to establish the fort here. I can read you the exact wording—”

  “That will be all, Colonel,” Whitcomb growled.

  Halladay quieted. “Yes sir.”

  “I can’t read the codicil to you,” Leghef said, “but it’s something to the effect that if events should come to a head on the planet and the Makaum people should find themselves in an untenable position due to an upgrade in Phrenorian hostilities, the Terran Alliance would guarantee safe passage off this planet.”

  Halladay almost chuckled. It wasn’t verbatim, but it was close.

  Whitcomb’s eyes narrowed and he shifted in his seat. “We can’t undertake something like that overnight.”

  “I would hope not, General.”

  “Do you know how long moving your people offplanet will take?”

  Quass Leghef stood. “No. This will be my first time to abandon a planet, General. I’m sure you’re quite practiced in those procedures. Perhaps you can give me an estimate.”

  Whitcomb didn’t reply.

  “Either way,” the Quass said, “I want my people removed if the Terran military is going to leave. As per terms of our agreement. Your presence here has left my people in a more precarious position than we were in before your arrival. And until you’re ready to take us somewhere else, you have to protect us.” She paused to let the moment hang. “As your government bound you to do.”

  Whitcomb was speechless, one of the few times Halladay had seen that occur.

  The Quass turned and walked toward the door. “Colonel, I suspect you’ll need to talk to the general. I’ll wait for you, but don’t be overly long. I have a population to move and I’ll require assistance from a military officer who’s on the ground.”

  “Yes, Quass.”

  Whitcomb looked at Halladay but didn’t speak till after the door had closed behind the Quass.

  “You put her up to this, Colonel,” he accused.

  Halladay faced the general and didn’t back down. If that old woman could beard Whitcomb in his lair, Halladay had to rise to the occasion. “No sir. I did not. If I had thought of it, I would have. As you’ll recall, General, I didn’t know plans to abandon the planet were in the pipeline. If we pull out—”

  “It’s going to happen, Colonel. You have my word on that.”

  “—we’ll be leaving these people in a difficult situation. That’s not what I signed on to do.”

  Whitcomb stared at him. “You signed on to follow orders. It seems having Master Sergeant Sage around has had an adverse effect on you.”

  Halladay held his reply for a moment, just long enough to make sure it was the one he wanted on record. “Sir, Master Sergeant Sage is the kind of soldier I thought I was. A man who makes a difference. I want to make a difference.” He didn’t point out that he’d thought the general was that kind of soldier as well.

  “Sergeant Sage has only made things worse since he arrived.”

  “That’s not true, sir.”

  Whitcomb blinked in astonishment. “You’re . . . arguing with me?”

  Halladay was aware that the general was recording the encounter. He was as well. “I’m not arguing, sir. I’m stating the facts. If you’ll refer to the after-action reports I’ve sent up to you, you’ll see Sage has shut down a major part of the drug trafficking that was going on here.”

  “Under your orders, I’m told.”

  Finkley had been talking. The drug takedowns had gone on under the radar. Halladay cursed the major. “Sage has also shut down a number of arms dealers, including the Zukimther black market last night. And he’s managed to pull in locals to act as scouts for our units operating out in the jungle.”

  “He wasn’t authorized to do that.”

  “I authorized it, sir, and those people have prepared us a lot better for action out in the wilderness.”

  “You weren’t given orders to allow such conscription.”

  “As XO on the ground, the employment of local people comes under my purview, General.”

  “To work
the service industry, yes. But—”

  “Those young Makaum soldiers work as scouts and help train our people. Almost every time a military unit has been assigned to a sector, orders were cut to take on locals to help with scouting and human intelligence gathering.”

  Whitcomb blew out an angry breath. “I’m not going to debate the matter with you. I will tell you this, though. Once we quit Makaum, you’re going to seek reassignment somewhere else. You won’t be in Charlie Company anymore. Is that understood?”

  Halladay held back all the sharp retorts that came to mind, including the one that if anyone shouldn’t be in Charlie Company it was the general. “Yes sir. Crystal.”

  “Dismissed, Colonel.”

  Halladay saluted, didn’t bother to wait for Whitcomb’s response because one wouldn’t be coming, and executed a perfect heel-and-toe 180. He walked toward the door.

  “One other thing,” Whitcomb said.

  Halladay faced his superior. “Sir.”

  “Tell Sage that I hope he enjoyed his time here. It’s as close to the war as he’s going to get as long as he wears a Terran military uniform. Of course, that may not be for much longer once I’ve finished my report regarding his rebellious service here.”

  “Yes sir.” Halladay let himself out, wondering how the encounter could have gone so badly.

  Leghef waited for him near the exit. They walked together toward the elevator.

  “That didn’t go as expected,” Leghef said.

  Halladay saluted the two guards at the elevator and stood while one of them summoned the cage. When it arrived, he waited till Leghef entered and followed her. “No.”

  “I know we were going to tell the general about the Phrenorian base,” Leghef said, “but I don’t think it would have mattered.”

  “If anything, it would have made him push up our departure date.”

  “How long do you think it will take him to arrange closing the fort?”

  “A few days to get it through the committees and Command, assuming he’s already laid the groundwork, which it sounds like he has. Then everything will be packed up and loaded in a few weeks, a couple months at the most. Terran military’s got moving down to a science. The fort will be abandoned and we’ll extrude another one wherever we’re assigned.” Halladay grimaced. “Wherever they’re assigned.”

  “They?”

  “The general will be putting in reassignment orders for me as well.”

  “You can do better, Colonel.”

  Halladay grinned sardonically. “If you’d told me that a few months ago, I would have argued. After this morning . . . I’m sure you’re right.” He looked down at her. “That’s not going to do you or your people any good, though.”

  “We’ll see. Not all of the cards are on the table yet.”

  “I didn’t know you played cards.”

  Leghef shrugged. “There are games on the PADs that can be played while waiting on conference calls and information to arrive. I quite like a game called Texas Hold’em.” She smiled at him. “We’ve still got a few cards coming.”

  “You surprised me back there.”

  She smiled brightly. “Did I?”

  “Calling for asylum. I didn’t think you’d do that.”

  “That was just a ploy, Colonel. I was born on this planet, buried my husband and son on this planet. One way or another, I’ll be buried here too. But . . . I’m not buried just yet. Demanding the general make allowances for our asylum should slow down everything he and this oversight committee are doing. During such time, things can . . . develop.”

  Halladay smiled. He liked her a lot. “Yes, ma’am. That’s guaranteed.”

  “In the meantime,” the Quass said, “I think it’s time to draw another card. I know that Master Sergeant Sage has been working on a plan to get into that secret Phrenorian stronghold.”

  “One of these days, you’re going to have to tell me how you know so much.”

  “People talk to me, Colonel. After all, I am Quass.”

  “Yes, ma’am. You are.”

  “I think we need to see if the sergeant is ready to implement what he’s been planning.”

  “Taking out that base?”

  “Yes.”

  Halladay took a breath and considered all the ramifications. Things could go south quickly. “An action like that may make things worse.”

  Leghef shook her head. “For whom? We’re about to be abandoned by our protectors and left vulnerable for predators. I should think exposing the Phrenorians’ disregard of the treaties with my people and with the Terran Alliance might change things.”

  “Are your people ready to enter into the war on the side of the Alliance?”

  Leghef hesitated. “Not yet. So many of them hold on to the belief that they can escape this violence. Or play both ends against the middle. Having the Phrenorian base exposed will push them as well.” She frowned. “Unfortunately, I think the Phrenorians are going to be pushed too. After this, if Master Sergeant Sage is successful in his endeavors, there will be no comfort zone left for anyone.”

  Halladay totally agreed. It was going to be interesting to see what happened next. So much would depend on what Sage could manage in a short amount of time.

  FOURTEEN

  A-Pakeb Node

  Biolab

  Makaum

  29118 Akej (Phrenorian Prime)

  Alone in his private quarters, Zhoh sat dressed in lightweight armor instead of full battle armor as he awaited the time for the duel. Plates of daravgane covered his thorax and groin and left the rest of his body exposed. Even those, though, wouldn’t stand up to the nano-edged patimongs that would be used. Only the arhwat on his left primary would do that. The small shield was thick enough to withstand sword blows, but it wasn’t big enough to hide behind.

  He wasn’t going to hide, though. Today, for the first time since Sxia had tarnished him with their defective offspring, he would get the chance to fight for his honor. He could no longer live without it.

  A chime announced someone at his door.

  “Come,” Zhoh called.

  The door slid to the side and Mato entered in full battle armor. For a moment, he stared at Zhoh.

  “What?” Zhoh demanded. “You look as though you’ve never seen a Phrenorian warrior before. Well, here is one now.”

  “Triarr, I don’t wish to question your choice about this fight—”

  Zhoh stood. “Then don’t. Watch today and learn how a true Phrenorian warrior fights his battles and gains honor.”

  Mato bowed his head. “Of course, triarr. I only wanted to inquire if there was anything else you would need.”

  Zhoh relaxed a little. Mato didn’t deserve his wrath. “No. I have everything I need. Thank you.” He looked at the other warrior. “Do you still wish to be my second in the matter?”

  “It will be my honor, triarr.”

  The comm on Zhoh’s personal workspace buzzed for attention. Since he had been on Makaum, it had never buzzed. That comm linked to the wormwave, meant for encrypted tightbeam communications with the home planet. Zhoh could not guess who might be calling him.

  “Give me a moment,” Zhoh told Mato.

  “As you wish.” Mato left the room.

  The comm buzzed again.

  “On,” Zhoh commanded.

  Immediately, a holo image blossomed into being and filled the room with the caller.

  General Belnale, his cybernetic primary wrapped in his cloak, gazed around the room.

  Zhoh snapped to attention. Anger flared through him as he guessed that the warrior had only shown up to ridicule him in some fashion. “General Belnale.”

  “Relax, Captain. I am here on unofficial business. In fact, the record of this communication will be expunged as soon as we are through.”

  “If you’re here only to descry my honor, then—”

  “Perhaps,” Belnale interrupted in a tone that brooked no interruption, “you would like to hear what I have to say before you commit
offense, Captain.”

  Zhoh controlled himself with effort. “Of course.”

  Belnale regarded him silently for a moment. “That was quite the speech you delivered earlier. Quite impressive.”

  Confusion rattled through Zhoh as he stood there. He hadn’t experienced any nod to his competence since the birth of Sxia’s abominations.

  “I could not show my true thoughts in front of the War Board because not everyone there agrees with my view of things,” Belnale continued. “I know you were treated badly. Thrown out like dung after Blaold Oldawe chose to protect his family’s honor instead of owning up to a weakening bloodline. He is in an untenable position, but his family has chosen their path, choosing to stay with what they perceived as safe measures. In the end, he will only save himself and perhaps his daughter. His name will wither and die, and his bloodline will disappear from the annals of our empire within a generation.”

  That admission surprised Zhoh. Bloodline among Phrenorians was sacred.

  “I fear our battles with weaker races, those more interested in material concerns, have brought some of our people down to their level,” Belnale said. “We have watered the blood, and the only way to strengthen it again is with new blood. The old blood, that which is growing stale and tepid, must be drained.” The general looked at Zhoh. “You are part of that new blood, Zhoh GhiCemid, and it is time others recognized that in you.”

  Despite his pride in hearing those words, Zhoh still suspected some trick. What he wanted could not be so easily given. Or it would, but only if it would be taken away again the moment he reached for it.

  “The way to your restoration will be difficult,” Belnale said, “and you will set the first stone on your new path by becoming the new general of these troops on this world. I knew Rangha would not do well here, but he was placed here—as were you—in an attempt to put him in a situation where he could do the least harm. However, where I fought against Rangha’s assignment, I championed yours. I wanted the strength of a primary to supplement the weakness of a secondary. Rangha . . . lacked.” He put his arms behind his back, a defenseless move that warriors did not often present. “I also know Rangha was dealing in black market enterprises and that you put a stop to that.”