The Price of Conquest

Kressa and Dahl reached the warehouse nearly a quarter of an hour early. Only a few people had arrived before them, but as the minutes passed, the remainder appeared. They sat about the room, singly or in small silent groups, waiting.

Dahl introduced Kressa to Telsin and told the boy they would be working together aboard the Cheops. Kressa feared Telsin might perceive her presence as a sign that Dahl did not think him capable of handling the task, but the boy seemed pleased to have her assistance.

As the time for the Patrol raid grew near, Nait went to the front of the room and cleared his throat. In the nervous hush of the room, the small sound seemed as loud as a gunshot. All eyes turned toward him.

"It's nearly time," he said. "Esora wants me to thank you all for coming, and she wants you to know that she hopes we can meet again soon, under better circumstances, when this is all over. For now, she thought it best if I—"

A series of explosions rumbled from the front of the building, and the room flooded with bright light. White-uniformed Patrol soldiers poured down the stairs and rushed through holes blasted in the doors that lined the front of the warehouse.

Kressa was on her feet with her gun halfway out of its holster before she remembered that she wasn't supposed to put up too much resistance. Before she could decide just how much resistance might be considered too much, three Patrolmen surrounded her. One twisted the gun from her hand while the other two took hold of her arms, forced her face-first against the nearest wall, and locked her wrists in a pair of security cuffs. Then they searched her for additional weapons and led her toward one of the demolished freight doors.

Vel had not lied when she said she would bring an overwhelming force. From the brief glimpse Kressa got, she estimated the rebels were outnumbered at least three to one. Even on board the transport, with the prisoners disarmed and their cuffed wrists locked into the backs of the ship's seats, the soldiers still outnumbered their prisoners, mute testimony to the importance the Patrol put on getting and keeping the rebels alive.

During the flight to the Cheops, Commander Vel stood at the front of the transport ship, watching over prisoners and soldiers alike, her expression stern. Kressa wondered what she was thinking.

Once on board the cruiser, the soldiers guided their prisoners off the transport and placed them in two closely guarded rows on one side of the massive docking bay. After a moment, a door at the front of the bay opened, and a Patrol captain stepped through, accompanied by a grim-faced, dark-haired security officer. Vel stepped forward to meet them.

Kressa watched the newcomers from her position in the middle of the back row.

Captain Betz stood only a bit taller than Vel, with a stocky build and rough, nondescript features. Vel saluted as she joined him. He sketched a return salute, then smiled as he took in the prisoners.

"I take it you encountered no problems, Commander?"

"Everything went perfectly," Vel said. "No casualties on either side."

"Very good." Betz walked slowly along the first row of prisoners, studying each as he passed.

Commander Vel and the security officer followed.

Nait stood near the end of the row. The captain halted and scrutinized him.

"This one looks familiar," Betz said to Vel.

"I think he's one of their leaders."

"Indeed."

He stopped in front of one of the female prisoners next, studied her briefly, then continued without comment to the end of the line and started along the back row.

Telsin stood second in line, blond head bowed, eyes locked on the floor. Betz stopped and looked down at him.

"Isn't this one a little young?" the captain asked.

Vel shrugged. "He was there when we moved in. I thought it best to bring everyone we found."

Betz nodded. "What's your name, boy?"

"Telsin," he said without looking up.

"What are you doing with these people?"

Telsin chewed his lower lip.

"What's that?" Betz said. "I didn't hear you. Look at me when I'm talking to you!"

Telsin glanced up at the captain through pale lashes.

Betz took the boy's chin in his hand and forced his head up. "I told you to look at me. Now, what are you—? What's this?" He reached a hand toward Telsin's throat and used one finger to hook a thin silver chain that disappeared into the boy's shirt. He drew the chain forth. A small amulet hung at its end. Betz held the silver disk flat on his palm, then he wrapped his fist around it and gave the chain a sharp tug.

Telsin flinched as the links bit into the back of his neck before snapping in two.

Betz gave the amulet another brief glance. "Gendzet?" He looked at Telsin. "Is that what this is, boy?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do you know it's illegal to own one of these? I could have you executed on the spot for wearing it."

"Yes, sir."

"Yet you wear it anyway."

"Yes, sir."

Betz frowned and passed the pendant and chain to the security officer. "Lieutenant Taler, remember who I got this from." He turned back to Telsin. "Is any of your 'family' here, boy?"

Telsin pursed his lips but said nothing.

"We'll find out soon enough." Betz moved past the next several prisoners in line with little more than a glance for each of them, and then stopped in front of Kressa.

She looked straight ahead and tried to ignore her uncomfortably pounding heart.

"This one's definitely familiar," he said.

"That's Kressa Bryant, sir," Vel said, triumph plain in her voice. "Apparently, she's the Arecian Guard's sole contribution to the cause. I guess they didn't think much of this Esora business."

"Maybe once we're done cleaning up Vsuna, we can use the information she'll give us to clean up Arecia, as well," Betz said. "That would be a nice prize."

Kressa tightened her jaw.

"Don't have anything to say, Bryant?" A crooked smile twisted Betz's lips. "You will." He glanced at the lieutenant. "When you begin interrogations, save this one for me." He made his way past the remaining prisoners to Dahl standing at the end of the line.

Despite Commander Vel's suggestion to the contrary, Dahl met the captain's eyes, but nothing about his agreeable look or congenial nod could be construed as challenging.

Betz scowled at the older man. "Are you with these people?"

Dahl scanned his fellow prisoners. "Apparently so."

The captain's scowl deepened. "So much for the theory that wisdom comes with age."

"On the contrary, Captain, wisdom can come at any age." Dahl surveyed the prisoners again, and his gaze rested briefly on Telsin. "All one need do is open one's mind to different ideas."

Betz sneered and turned away. "Lieutenant, get these prisoners to the brig."

The security officer gestured for the guards to begin escorting the prisoners from the bay. Vel moved to join them.

"Where are you going, Dani?" Betz asked her.

"To oversee the processing of the prisoners. I know this is the end of your shift, so I didn't want to bother you with it. I'll have a full report ready when you come back on duty."

Betz hesitated, and Kressa feared he would insist on accompanying them to the brig. Finally, he gave a curt nod. "Very well, Commander, but I want that report as soon as possible."

Kressa drew a relieved breath, but a final glimpse of the captain's tight-lipped expression made her wonder if the report could come soon enough to please him.

* * *

Kressa sat on a hard, molded plasteel bench in one of the cells of the Cheops' brig. Five rebels who had been processed along with her—stripped, searched, scanned, forced to state their name, and then given a rough, one-piece worksuit to wear—shared the cell. Beyond the shield barrier, other prisoners received similar handling before being placed in adjoining cells. A few put up token resistance, but whether it was for show or brought on by honest and rightful anger at the rough treatment, Kressa did not know. She suspected a little of both.

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She hadn't bothered to resist, aware it would do no good. Either Vel was going to get them out, or they had all walked willingly into a very cunningly set trap.

The main brig door opened, and two Patrol soldiers entered. One guided a null-grav platform containing a large plasteel crate.

"What is this?" Lieutenant Taler, the security officer, asked.

"The prisoners' weapons," the man with the crate said.

Taler frowned and narrowed his eyes. "They should be taken to the armory, not—"

"I asked for them to be delivered here," Vel said.

"That's highly irregular, Commander. Regulations plainly state that all captured weapons are to be processed through and stored in the armory."

Vel gave Taler a barely tolerant look. He had been questioning and attempting to contradict her orders ever since they arrived in the brig. She opened the crate and began picking through its contents.

"Some of these weapons are highly illegal," she said. "I want to match them to their owners, make sure we know who had what."

"That can be done in the armory," Taler said. "The weapons can be scanned for prints, DNA—"

"Lieutenant," Vel pulled Nait's needler out of the crate and examined it, "when I give an order, I expect it to be followed without question or comment."

"Yes, sir," Taler said stiffly. "But the captain wanted me to—"

"The captain isn't here right now. I am."

"But—"

"Lieutenant, shut up." Vel swung the needler toward him and pulled the trigger.

Taler had just enough time to muster a surprised look before the drug took effect, and he collapsed to the floor.

Before anyone could react, Vel used the needler to take out four of the other soldiers. The remaining Patrolmen began releasing the processed prisoners from the cells, removing the security cuffs from those who still waited, and distributing the weapons. Kressa came out of her cell with a profound sense of relief, retrieved her gun, and checked the charge.

Vel tossed the needler to Nait and then withdrew two data pads from the crate and passed them to Dahl and Telsin. "Dahl, plug into the security board. Download the access codes and anything else you need, and start working on the weapon sensors."

Dahl slid his pad into a receptacle at the brig control station. Telsin stood nearby. Kressa crossed the room to join them.

Vel continued to distribute weapons. "Remember, people, these are to be used only if absolutely necessary. There are sensors all over this ship that can pick up energy weapon fire and alert security. Dahl's going to do what he can to disable them, but too much tampering with the ship's systems at this stage is only going to put our enemies onto us too soon. If you do need to use the guns, remember what I said last night: No killing unless it absolutely cannot be avoided." She motioned to a group of rebels standing nearby. "Get the uniforms off these five." She indicated the soldiers she had disabled with the needler. "Give Taler's to Nait. Find people who can fit in the rest. We'll—" A low tone interrupted her, and she pulled a commlink from her belt.

A similar tone came from one of the unconscious soldiers.

"Here, Commander," the man who was stripping Lieutenant Taler said. "It's his comm."

"Don't answer it." She activated her link. "Vel here."

"Commander, it's Jendo—Ensign deRas," a young woman's voice said from the link.

Kressa recognized her name; it was the woman Vel had arranged to keep Betz busy.

"I'm in the captain's quarters," deRas said. "He came here a few minutes ago, but then he left."

"Did he say where he was going?"

"No, sir. I tried to stop him, but he was acting very distracted. I tried everything you suggested to keep him here."

"All right, Ensign. I'm sure you did everything you could. Stay there for a while. Maybe he had something he needed to take care of and will be back."

"Yes, sir. DeRas out." She sounded despondent, and Kressa didn't think she believed Vel's words.

Based on the commander's stern expression, Vel didn't believe them either.

Taler's comm beeped again.

Vel looked at the man kneeling beside the unconscious security officer. "Ignore it," she said.

The lieutenant's comm beeped a third time. A moment later, the brig comm chirped.

Vel scowled and pointed to one of the Patrolmen. "Answer it."

It was the captain. "Get me Commander Vel. Now!"

Vel crossed the room to the comm panel, her features tight. "Vel here, sir."

"Dani, is Lieutenant Taler with you?"

She glanced at the unconscious lieutenant. "No, sir."

"Do you know where he is? He's not answering his comm."

"I don't know. He left here a few minutes ago. Should I tell him anything if I see him?"

"No. It can wait. Betz out."

"Do you think he believed you about Taler?" Nait asked as he began putting on the lieutenant's uniform.

"Let's hope so," Vel said, "and let's hurry it up in here." She locked the brig door from the inside and motioned to Kressa and two of the rebels. "You three, watch the door."

Kressa took up a post beside the barrier, pulse gun ready. The two rebels joined her.

Vel split her people into two teams: one for engineering, led by Nait; the others to help her take the bridge. Kressa would accompany Dahl and Telsin on the bridge team.

Nait made a final adjustment to Taler's uniform, tucked the Gendzet amulet he wore under the shirt, and then searched through the pockets until he found the amulet Betz had taken from Telsin. He moved across the room to where the boy stood beside Dahl.

"Here, Tel." Nait held out the pendant by its broken chain.

Telsin smiled up at him.

Nait looped the chain around the boy's neck, tied it, and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Take care of yourself. I'll see you when this is over."

Telsin threw his arms around the man's waist. "Be careful, Nait."

"Hey, I'll be doing the easy part. You'll be on the bridge. You be careful." He tousled the boy's hair. "And take care of the old man."

Dahl glanced up. Nait winked at him, gave Telsin an affectionate look, and then joined his team.

"Any last-minute questions or comments?" Vel asked.

There were none.

"All right, let's go."

A red light began winking from the door panel.

"Someone's trying to force the door," one of the renegade Patrolmen said. "It could—"

The door slid aside, and Captain Betz rushed in, flanked by five security men.

Recalling Vel's repeated warnings about the use of weapons, Kressa stuck a foot in Betz's path and swung her gun to cover him as he stumbled into the waiting hands of a half dozen rebels. The security men with him began to fire. Apparently, they'd been misinformed about what they were up against or hadn't been in a position to see the full extent of the opposition. In seconds, all five were down. Two rebels were hit, as well: one dead, the other wounded.

Vel turned to the wounded man. He was nursing a pulse gun burn on his arm. One of the renegade Patrolmen hurried to help him.

"Will you be all right?" Vel asked the wounded man.

"I think so, Commander."

"Okay. You two stay here." She pointed to one of the rebels who had donned a Patrol uniform. "And you. Secure this room after we're gone." She turned to Dahl. "Did the sensors pick up the weapons' fire?"

He nodded. "But the alert never left this room. I got a loop established before the shooting started. As long as no one heard the gunshots, we should—"

A struggle erupted between Betz and the men holding him.

The captain glared at Vel. "What in hell are you up to, Dani?! Who are these people?"

"Olun, would you please shut up?" Vel said.

He stared at her, mouth agape, and tried again to jerk out of his captors' grasp. "You'll never get away with this."

She rolled her eyes. "I already have. Now, this is your last warning to keep your mouth shut and—"

"How dare you threaten me?" Betz's eyes narrowed. "You'd be nowhere without me, Vel. Nothing!"

The commander crossed the brig to a supply cabinet, slapped her hand against the scanlock, and removed a collar-like device. Kressa had never seen a vocal paralyzer, but she'd heard them described well enough to recognize the object the commander held.

Betz glared at her as she approached him. "You wouldn't dare."

"No?" Vel said, her tone friendly, then her eyes closed to angry slits. "Try me."

Betz clamped his mouth shut.

Vel watched him for a moment, then turned back to the cabinet and withdrew a pair of security cuffs.

Betz lurched toward her, dragging one of his captors with him. He shook the man off, but stumbled to his knees and toppled onto the body of one of the dead security men. He struggled to get his arms under him, then pushed himself up using the body beneath him for leverage. His captors grabbed him again and jerked him to his feet. Betz made a final valiant—but silent—attempt to escape before they got his arms bound behind his back with the security cuffs. One of the rebels moved toward him with the vocal paralyzer.

"You can leave that off for now." Vel gave the captain a long look. "But if he opens his mouth again without permission…" She met his eyes, and the threat hung in the air between them.

He clenched his jaw.

Vel started for the door. "Bring him."

"We're taking him with us?" one of the rebels asked, clearly surprised by the order.

"We're going with the backup plan." She gave Betz another long look. "He's going to help us take the secondary bridge. We'll have less resistance that way. Dahl, you won't have any trouble running things from the backup bridge, will you?"

He held up his data pad. "Just give me a place to plug this in, and I'll do whatever you need."

She turned to Nait. "Get your team to engineering. Prepare to shut down the main bridge power on my order. The rest of the plan stands. Signal me when you're ready. Good luck."

Nait gestured to his team, flashed a cautious glance out the door, and then led them from the brig.

Vel turned to her remaining people. "Those of you who aren't wearing uniforms, hide your weapons or give them to someone in uniform. Keep your hands behind your backs as if they're cuffed and stay in the center of the group when we're moving through the corridors. Those of you in uniform will act as escorts. We'll be using corridors that shouldn't have much traffic, but if someone sees us, I want it to look like we're escorting prisoners. I'll be in the front. You two," she pointed to one of the real Patrolmen and one of the rebels in uniform, "will be responsible for the captain. Keep him in the middle of the group. If anyone gets too close, do what you can to keep him from being noticed." She flashed Betz a look that promised severe retribution if he did not cooperate.

He met her glare with one of his own, but refrained from comment.

"When we get to the backup bridge," Vel continued, "we'll wait for Nait's signal and then go in." She pulled her commlink from her belt and pressed a button on its side. A moment later, the link emitted a series of tones. "I've just signaled the rest of our people on the ship. They're ready to move. Let's go."