The Price of Conquest

Jonathan received the last of the damage reports an hour after the Vsuna battle ended. Adding the information it contained to what he'd learned from earlier reports, he quickly concluded that the Stingray would be going nowhere but home. She had far too much critical damage to repair on the wing.

He'd met with his senior officers and devised a way to help defend Vsuna should Gaunis decide to make another try for the planet. They would take the Stingray to Teneia as soon as the plan was implemented. Until then, they would sit tight, make what repairs they could for the jump to Teneia, and hope Gaunis did not return.

"Captain," Commander Aerhom said, "we've got something interesting coming in. On screen."

The irregular asteroid shape of a damaged Enforcer appeared on the main viewer. Jonathan glanced at the ship's bearing. It was moving toward Vsuna.

"Do the Vsunans know about this?" he asked.

"One of their patrols spotted it," Aerhom said. "Captain Vel's sent a force to intercept."

"Any idea what their orders are?"

"From the sound of it," Lieutenant Dakk said from the comm station, "they're supposed to shoot first and ask questions later."

"Is the Cheops out there?" Jonathan asked.

"No, sir," Dakk said. "She's docked for repairs."

Jonathan took a moment to consider his options, then came to a decision he hoped he wouldn't regret. "Put me through to the Vsunan ships, Dakk."

"Channel open."

"Vsunan vessels, this is Captain Westlex. Hold your positions. You are not to approach the enemy vessel. Repeat, you are to make no hostile moves toward—"

"Westlex!" A sharp female voice cut through Jonathan's broadcast.

"It's from Vsuna, sir," Dakk said. "Captain Vel."

"I guessed that much." Jonathan cast him a weak smile and touched the transmit control. "Yes, Miss Vel?" he said, his voice dripping with sweetness. "What can I do for you?"

"Are you ordering my ships off that Patrol vessel?"

"Yes."

"Why?" Vel demanded.

"Because you're not being very neighborly." He let a bit of the irritation he felt leak into his voice.

"You think I should let an enemy vessel sail into orbit unchallenged?" Vel asked.

"Challenge, yes; hostility, no." He took a deep breath. Patience, Westlex. "Captain Vel, there is no reason to react violently to a heavily damaged vessel, unless you don't think your fleet can handle—"

"Captain, you—"

"Captain, you will hear me out!" Jonathan snapped, his patience shattered. "I called your people back because I'd like to know what that ship wants. I'm not sure you're aware of the full picture. That isn't a Patrol vessel, it's th'Maran."

"That ship was in the battle," Vel said. "It fired on you."

"And we fired back," Jonathan countered, once again in control of his voice. "That makes us even. Now, let's see what they want. Peaceably, all right?"

Vel did not reply.

"She's calling back her ships," Dakk said with a smile.

Jonathan felt little of the satisfaction he knew he should be experiencing at this second triumph over Vel.

"Very well, Westlex," she said a moment later. "It's your problem now. Vsuna out."

Commander Aerhom gave Jonathan a bewildered glance.

Jonathan shrugged. "What can I say? She's crazy about me. Take us out toward that ship, slow and steady. Dakk, try to raise them. Sensors, give me a full-sphere sweep of the area. I want to know where every rock and piece of debris is in a five light second radius. Let me know if you find anything out of the ordinary."

"Aye, sir."

The Enforcer continued its approach.

"How's it going, Dakk?" Jonathan asked.

"Got 'em, sir."

"Put them on."

"… coming in unarmed," a lightly accented male voice said over the comm. "I repeat: This is Enforcer EL-312. We are requesting a safe port. Our corridor drive was damaged in the battle. We are coming in unarmed."

Jonathan recognized the speaker's accent from the priest in Cint-Istep. Apparently, a th'Maran controlled the vessel. He pressed the transmit control at his station. "Enforcer, this is Jonathan Westlex, captain of the Stingray. Are there humans aboard your vessel?"

"Yes, Captain. They did not agree with our decision to return to Vsuna. They are under our control. Neither we nor they will cause you any trouble."

"You intend to surrender?" Jonathan asked.

"No, Captain, my people wish to join you."

A rush of astonishment widened Jonathan's eyes. "Uh… please stand by for a moment." He touched the mute button and met Aerhom's gaze. "What do you think?"

"It could be a trap, sir. You mentioned the Patrol had a failsafe against the th'Maran. If that's true, how were they able to overcome the humans on board?"

Jonathan pursed his lips. Had his guess about the contents of the vial Kressa took from the Enforcer been wrong?

"Maybe it didn't work," he said. "Or maybe the th'Maran discovered and countered it. What good would it do for the Patrol to send one ship back to Vsuna? We should be able to stop it before it tries anything." He glanced over his shoulder to the sensor station. "Sensors, what condition is that ship in?"

"Hard to tell, sir. There's definitely a lot of damage. It took at least one discharge, and I can't detect any functioning weaponry, but it's difficult to get an accurate reading through all that rock."

"All right, everyone, heads up." Jonathan reactivated the comm. "Enforcer, we welcome you and your people. We will escort you to Vsuna."

"Thank you, Captain," the th'Maran said. "You will not regret this."

Jonathan started to sign off, then hesitated as an idea struck him. "What are you planning to do with the humans on board your vessel?"

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"We had thought to turn them over to you."

Jonathan smiled. "Good. I'm going to send some men over to help take charge of them. We'll meet at the main Vsunan base in one hour."

* * *

The Teneian shuttle drifted into the huge, bustling Vsunan hangar and set down near a small Patrol transport. A moment later, the airlock on the Teneian ship opened, and Jonathan stepped out. Two Teneian soldiers flanked him.

A waft of smoke carrying the odors of burnt circuitry and scorched metal stung his eyes and throat. Nearby, a pair of mechanics argued beside a heavily armed—and heavily damaged—courier, gesturing at the ship as if trying to decide how to begin repairs. Elsewhere around the hangar, groups of men and women worked on other ships showing recent damage. Jonathan saw no sign of Vel.

Perhaps she'd decided not to come after all, he mused. Or maybe she was just being fashionably late.

He ordered the two soldiers with him to help escort the prisoners from the Patrol vessel.

He hoped he was doing the right thing. Giving the Patrol prisoners to Vel could prove to be a touchy bit of business. He had no idea how she would react to the gesture, and he feared that if it did not go well, any hope of a civil relationship with the woman would be shattered. Assuming it hadn't been already.

Moments later, one of the men he sent to the transport returned. Beside him strode a tall, pale-skinned alien.

No, not alien, man, Jonathan corrected himself, but he found it difficult to keep the thought silent. The th'Maran's haunting, exotic features were so… well, alien.

"Captain Westlex," the Teneian said, "this is Ciroen. He's the L'Aron—that's like a captain, sir—of the Patrol Enforcer."

"Not Patrol," Ciroen said, his voice quiet but stern as he gazed down at the Teneian soldier. "The fralsha is mine. It was taken from me." He raised his head, and his silver eyes bored into Jonathan's. "I took it back." He held out a hand, and Jonathan shook it. The th'Maran's grip was firm. "Greetings, Captain Westlex."

"Welcome to Vsuna, L'Aron Ciroen," Jonathan said, "although I probably shouldn't be the one doing the welcoming."

"You've spoken with Captain Vel?" Ciroen asked.

Jonathan nodded. "She said she'd meet us here. I apologize for…"

A young Vsunan soldier jogged up beside them. He eyed the group of captive Patrolmen with a frown, gave Ciroen a suspicious look, and then switched his attention to Jonathan.

"You're Westlex?"

Jonathan nodded.

The soldier gestured toward the Patrol prisoners. "What're they doing here?"

"Peace offering," Jonathan said.

The Vsunan soldier cocked his head slightly. "I don't understand, sir."

Jonathan flashed him a reassuring smile. "Never mind. Please, find your captain and let her know we're here."

The young man gave Ciroen a second wary glance, then nodded to Jonathan. "Very well, sir." He hurried off.

"You didn't tell Captain Vel about the prisoners?" Ciroen asked.

Jonathan shook his head and pursed his lips to hide a possibly inappropriate smile. "I wanted to surprise her."

Ciroen glanced at the Patrol soldiers gathered under the watchful eyes of several Teneian and th'Maran guards. "I think it will be a pleasant surprise," he said with the barest hint of a smile, the first sign of emotion Jonathan had seen the th'Maran display.

A door opened at the hangar's far end, and three Vsunan soldiers stepped through, two men and a woman. Jonathan recognized the younger of the men as the soldier who had gone to fetch Vel. The other man was older, with the rough looks and confident bearing of a veteran. Both stood an easy head taller than the woman with them, but the deference they paid her and the way they walked behind her, even if only a half step behind, identified her as Vel.

Jonathan's gaze locked onto the compact bundle of muscle and self-assurance, pleasantly surprised by what he saw. Framed by a thick mane of wavy, dark brown hair, Vel's round face possessed an intense natural beauty, unenhanced by paints or preening. Despite his best attempts to look away, Jonathan found himself watching her with an appreciative eye.

Vel halted before him and looked him over minutely, her large brown eyes narrowed slightly. "Captain Westlex, are you responsible for this?" She stabbed a finger at the Patrol prisoners.

"I'm afraid I can't take all the credit," Jonathan said. "Ciroen here…"

Vel's attention snapped away from Jonathan, and she stared intently at the prisoners. "Betz," she hissed under her breath, and then pushed past Jonathan and Ciroen as if they did not exist.

Ciroen's eyes followed her, and a corner of his mouth curled in the further promise of a smile.

Jonathan watched him for a moment, then looked at Vel. Clearly, something was going on, and he had absolutely no idea what it was. Then he remembered Halav's stories about the Vsuna uprising and how Vel's defiance of her commanding officer, Captain Betz, had led to the Vsunans' victory. Betz was also the name of the Patrolman who'd worked over Kressa on board the Enforcer. That meant Ciroen's Enforcer was the one that captured her.

Jonathan glanced at Ciroen with a new understanding, and then with a smile of his own, he motioned to the th'Maran and followed Vel.

"You can't win, Dani!" Betz was saying as Jonathan and Ciroen drew close to the prisoners. "Not against the combined forces of the admirals and the…" Betz halted his tirade long enough to glare at the approaching th'Maran. "Ciroen, you bastard!" He took a step toward the th'Maran. "You'll pay for this. I'll—"

Ciroen's gaze locked on Betz, and the Patrol captain fell instantly silent, his eyes wide. The other prisoners muttered under their breaths.

"Well, that's better," Vel said. She glanced at Ciroen with raised brows, and then smiled at Jonathan. "Captain Westlex, I don't believe you know Captain Olun Betz."

Jonathan met the Patrol officer's eyes. "Only by reputation," he said, careful to keep his tone neutral.

"I must inform you, Westlex," Betz said with a cold look, "I cannot recognize the authority of the Vsunan Navy or the navy of which your ship is a part."

Jonathan raised an eyebrow. "My ship is not part of any navy, Captain Betz. She's a free vessel. As for our authority… Admiral Gaunis seemed to recognize it when he used your ship as a shield against it." He took a step closer. "And you seemed rather interested in our authority when you messed with Kressa."

"Kressa?" Vel said. She glanced from Betz to Jonathan, then back again. "What does she have to do with this?"

"I was simply gathering information," Betz said to Jonathan.

"Is that what you call it?" Jonathan asked. "I don't like the way you go about 'gathering information.'"

Betz scoffed. "Don't you think your concern for criminals is a bit beneath your self-appointed station, Captain?"

Jonathan gave a nonchalant shrug. "I suppose you might see it that way, but I find your treatment of prisoners somewhat beneath your own station as a Patrol officer."

"What'd this son of a bitch do to Kressa?" Vel demanded.

"Not nearly what she deserved," Betz said.

"She's fine," Jonathan told Vel. "The Patrol captured her, but she got away."

"Got away?" Betz chuckled. "Idiot. We let her go."

As one, Jonathan, Vel, and Ciroen looked at him.

"What do you mean?" Vel asked.

Betz gave her a slow, boastful smile.

Vel stalked closer, a dangerous look pinching her features. "What. Do. You. Mean?"

"Just what I said," Betz answered. "We let her go."

"Why?!" Vel snapped.

Betz gestured to Jonathan. "To bring your friend here to Vsuna."

Vel laughed. "For what? To destroy him? Did Gaunis honestly believe he could take on my fleet and the Stingray?"

Betz met the Vsunan's look. "Obviously he underestimated your strength. But he'll be back, Dani, mark my words. He'll be back, and Vsuna will fall, as will the other Free Worlds."

"Major!" Vel gestured to the veteran soldier who had accompanied her into the hangar.

He hurried forward.

"Major Lerros, get rid of this… person. And the rest of them. Take them to the brig. I'll deal with them later." She turned to Jonathan. "Captain Westlex, you come with me. You, too, Ciroen." She started across the hangar.

Jonathan turned to follow, but paused when Ciroen failed to accompany him.

The th'Maran was watching the guards lead Betz and the other prisoners away, lips pursed, brow furrowed slightly.

Vel returned. "Are you two coming, or do I need to…?" She hesitated when Ciroen turned his look on her.

"What is it?" Jonathan asked the th'Maran.

"Did you hear what Betz said?" Ciroen asked, his voice quiet. "About Kressa. About letting her go?"

"Of course," Jonathan said. "Why?"

"I think luring you to Vsuna was not Gaunis's only intention." His gaze drifted once more to the band of departing Patrolmen.

"What else could he want?" Vel asked.

Ciroen turned and met her eyes, and then looked at Jonathan. "To leave Arecia unguarded."