Confederation 1 - Valor's Choice by Tanya Huff

Author:Tanya Huff
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: DAW
Published: 2011-08-27T02:33:02+00:00

Nine

“If the ridge joinsss up with higher ground here ...” Cri Sawyes drew a curved line in the dirt and then crossed it, “... then the buildingsss I sssaw from the air are here.” He drew a square toward the end of the crosspiece. “They could be asss near asss three kilometers or asss far asss five.”

“If this is a wilderness preserve, why are there buildings at all?” The nose filters the di’Taykan had been forced to wear made Lieutenant Jarret’s voice sound flat and angry.

It was a good question, though. Since the lines in the dirt were telling Torin nothing much, she looked up at Cri Sawyes.

“I have no idea.”

The lieutenant’s eyes narrowed. “Why not?”

“I’m not from around here.” His tongue flicked out. When neither the two officers nor the three NCOs squatting around the crude map seemed to appreciate the humor, he expanded his explanation. “Sssome of what we Sssilsssvisss do isss bound by biology and therefore relatively ssstandard planetwide. All our young malesss are sssegregated until hormonal balance isss achieved and they—we—are able to control our aggresssion. Behavior within that sssegregation fallsss within biologically determined parametersss.” He glanced around the circle of light, checking that his listeners understood. When no one indicated otherwise, he continued. “There are, asss I’m sure you’re aware, many cultural differencesss even within a planet’sss dominant ssspeciesss and I believe that the buildingsss are one of thossse differencesss.”

“A useful difference if we can get to them,” Sergeant Chou muttered.

Heads nodded around the circle.

“The long-range scanner on the VTA placed the closest Silsviss at thirty kilometers to the northwest.” Lieutenant Jarret jabbed a stick into the ground. “Approximately here. As the buildings are southeast of our position, we can assume they’re empty.” He frowned up at Cri Sawyes. “Could you tell if they were intact?”

“At that altitude and that ssspeed? No. I only sssaw them for a moment.”

“But you’re sure of where they are?”

“Within reason.”

“Staff?”

Torin sat back on her heels and exhaled slowly. All things considered, it could have been worse. That she was fairly certain it was going to get worse didn’t actually impact on the current decision. “We can’t run away from a fight because of the wounded, so I’d prefer to have something solid between me and the enemy if we have to dig in.”

“So would I. At first light, send a ftreteam out to scout the position.”

“Yes, sir.” A sudden commotion in the darkness on the other side of the camp pulled Torin’s attention.

“That sounds like Hollice,” Mike muttered, head cocked to better separate the voices.

The unmistakable sound of a KC discharging brought everyone to their feet.

“Sergeant Glicksohn!”

“On my way, sir.” He slapped down his helmet scanner and broke into a run.

Ghard shook off the lethargy he’d worn since abandoning the contaminated VTA to the swamp, dropped his weapon off his shoulder, and jerked the muzzle around toward Cri Sawyes. “Are they attacking?”

“Are who attacking?” Jarret demanded.

“His people!”

“It’s not the Silsviss, sir.” Torin turned slowly so as not to startle him into pulling the trigger.

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