Mak'to'ran (2) by Aer-ki Jyr

Author:Aer-ki Jyr [Jyr, Aer-ki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Archon Lore
Published: 2016-06-17T23:00:00+00:00

6

August 9, 3604

Yat’ri System (Hjar’at Regional Capitol)

Hattoman

Mak’to’ran was in his drop pod rising back to orbit several days later after a long tour of Hattoman’s selective shipyards when the Zen’zat pilots suddenly entered his mind with a quick query that he had to act on instantly. Fortunately his mental speed was faster than theirs and he responded instantly, trusting in the warning that had just been broadcast to them and ordering the drop pod to make an emergency landing.

The pod immediately reversed course, not just letting gravity pull it back down but accelerating towards the planet so fast it became a fireball that leveled out between the ridge-like buildings then hovered there as Mak’to’ran accessed the comm and told the pilots to hold position until he had somewhere else for them to go. Meanwhile he watched the building defense weaponry in case they might also come online, but as of yet they had not.

He conferred with his ship in orbit and had it also run…but further up the gravity well than down, because the warning he’d been given was that one of the planetary defense batteries had gone rogue and was intending to shoot down his drop pod. Somehow he’d escaped that, whether by the actions of the Hjar’at on the ground or the angle of the planet’s curve. He hadn’t been told where the battery was, but right now the only safe place to be was below the sky where the big guns couldn’t reach.

But there were many smaller ones around that could do a lot of damage, and with his drop pod unable to flee to orbit he was in a particularly bad situation. Going to ground would be the only option, and he had no way of knowing whether the Hjar’at beneath his now random position would be friendly or hostile.

His Kafcha made it to higher orbit without being fired upon, but an escort fleet went with it keeping their respectful distance as other ships were seen heading its way. Mak’to’ran split his attention from what was around him on the ground and what was happening in orbit as he saw several Hjar’at ships attempt to get near the Era’tran vessel, but the escort ships got between them and backed them off without a fight, and by the time Yaquik contacted him no assault had yet come against his hovering drop pod.

“Stay below altitude and travel here,” he said over comm as additional data flowed in to Mak’to’ran. “Your route has been secured.”

“What happened?”

“This treason is deeper than anticipated. You were right about me being blind, and I’m about to find out how much, but I need to secure you first.”

“Give me a conduit to orbit if you can.”

“No. You are not running. We are fixing this here and now.”

“How?”

“I am assigning a protector to you for the time being. One that I can trust. Get to the rendezvous and in her care.”

“Her? You’re entrusting my security to females?”

“They might not have Saroto’kanse’vam, but do not think they cannot fight.

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