Retribution's Last Stand by D.A. Boulter

Author:D.A. Boulter [Boulter, D.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-09T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

Callum walked the concourse and saw nothing but worried faces. The Confederation cruiser Leopard and the two liners drew ever nearer, and wondering who might leave with them formed the basis of most conversations.

Journalists on the surface attempted to interview human industrialists, business owners, board members of trading companies who did much business with The Confederation, to little avail. Those human members stayed silent about what they intended. None said that they contemplated leaving, but, then again, none said that they would not contemplate that.

He walked into the clothing store.

“Ah, Callum, what can I do for you today?”

“Oliver, you’re working in the shop?” Not often that the owner worked the front – in fact, Callum had only rarely seen him there at all.

“I guess I’m like everyone else, trying to decide whether to stay or go. I’m sussing out what my customers think. And you? Aren’t you usually in your establishment at this hour?”

Callum shook his head. Found out.

“Doing the same thing, I guess.”

“It looks like The Confederation has decided to leave us to the Garvid Regime,” Oliver said. “So, will they – The Regime – allow us to continue as before, or will we lose everything if we stay?”

“We’ll certainly lose everything if we leave.”

Oliver closed his eyes for a moment. “But we’ll have the choice to start again amongst our own kind – and we could sell out to someone – human or Garvid – who wants to stay.”

Callum fingered the cloth of one of the shirts on display.

“I thought the other citizens of Pacerea were our own kind.”

“You know what I mean. They may be that now, but what when The Regime takes over? What place will we humans have?”

And Callum couldn’t answer that question. No one, neither human nor Garvid on Pacerea, could begin to answer it.

As long as he was there, he bought a shirt for himself before walking back to his own establishment. There, Jaydar approached him.

“I’m thinking of leaving as a refugee, Callum. It may be the only chance we’ll get. The government seems worse than useless. They’re acting as if the Garvid fleet won’t return, as if we won some sort of definitive victory. Have you seen or heard of any preparation at all in case they do? More soldiers on the station, word of defence preparations on the planet or at the mining concessions on the moons?”

He hadn’t, and said so. Jaydar nodded as if he had made his point to everyone’s satisfaction.

“No one is doing anything. We had our warning – your wife gave us that. The authorities did nothing until the people forced them to react. Now, they are doing nothing again.” He shrugged his shoulders. “If something doesn’t happen – and soon – I can’t think of any reason to stay.”

Losing Jaydar would definitely cause him problems. He would have to go back to cooking full time until he could find a replacement.

“We all have to do what we have to do,” Callum said. “If you decide to go, we’ll certainly miss you.

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