Freehold by William C. Dietz

Author:William C. Dietz
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 1987-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Their departure from Endo had gone without a hitch. Stell and Como were aboard the Nest, with Falco and his wing, and Samantha had taken the small scout in toward the empire on a recon mission. Now that the mercenaries were back in possession of their interceptors, the local authorities showed little desire to debate the matter, which was probably wise, since Falco and his crew could have taken out the local air force in a matter of minutes. However, Falco had sent a message to Goteb, promising the payment they owed—minus a fee for time spent in captivity and their expenses. The Zord had not replied.

As the Nest entered normal space, she began broadcasting the recognition code Stell had established prior to lifting from Freehold. Moments later they had sealed-beam confirmation from the Shona, and an urgent request for Stell to come aboard. An hour later, Stell was sitting in the optional rear seat of Falco's interceptor, watching in admiration as the pilot slipped expertly into Shona's launch bay, and touched down. They waited while the robolock settled over the cockpit. When the air pressure had equalized, Falco popped the canopy and climbed up a short ladder. Stell was right behind him. When they emerged in the corridor above, they were greeted by a grim Captain Nashita.

“Welcome back, General. I wish I could tell you everything is fine, but it isn't. The folks dirtside will sure be glad to see you.”

Stell smiled. “Hi, Mike. They'll be even happier when they hear we have air cover. Jack Falco, meet Captain Mike Nashita.”

By now they were three abreast and striding down the corridor. “Not Commander Jack Falco?” Nashita asked.

“The same,” Stell answered with a grin.

“Well, you certainly insist on the very best,” Nashita replied. “Welcome aboard, Commander. For what it's worth ... they were wrong.”

“Thanks, Captain,” Falco said, returning the other man's handshake, “but the brass are never wrong. Isn't that right, General?”

“No comment,” Stell answered with a laugh. Moments later they were seated in the Shona's wardroom. “Okay, Mike ... what's the problem?”

“Well, for starters we were jumped by the pirates,” Nashita answered, dimming the room lights. “And with them was a familiar face.” The holo tank swirled into life, and Stell watched the battle for Two Holes. His jaw tightened and his fingernails grew white when the camera zoomed in on Malik. He was standing on the bow of a tank, shouting orders as bullets and energy beams shrieked around him. Nashita described the battle and how it had ended.

“No sooner were the pirates gone ... than the Il Ronn showed up again ... and not to help us, either.” The scene changed, and Stell watched what had transpired in the Senate, from Roop's opening remarks, to Feeg's final ultimatum. One of the free Senators had taped the whole thing and beamed it up to the brigade ships, along with orders from Colonel Krowsnowski.

When it was over, the room was silent, and all eyes turned to Stell. He sat, lost in thought.

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