Protected Species by Charles E. Gannon

Author:Charles E. Gannon
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction, Space Opera, Fiction, Fantasy, Military
ISBN: 9781982193072
Publisher: Baen
Published: 2023-12-05T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Six

Duncan did not just stop, but froze in place, when O’Garran raised his fist into the “hold position” attitude. Cruvanor and his warriors lagged a moment behind, never having seen it before.

From the circle of darkness that marked the hatchway leading down into the third level, there was scrabbling and hissed exchanges.

Duncan heard Girten mutter something to the chief, who took two steps back to pass the word to the support group. “One of the tinkers on point got their arm hooked into a tripwire just as they got off the descent line. Need a little more light so we can see the snag.” He nodded toward the trogan carrying the group’s only lit torch. “A few steps toward me should do it.”

Solsohn nodded the trogan forward. “I thought the tinkers have the best glowsight,” he whispered sideways to Cruvanor.

Irisir murmured a reply over his shoulder. “They do, but unless the line was much hotter or colder than the air around it, it would not show up.”

O’Garran must have heard; his snicker was well-muffled but he might as well have shouted, “Hey, genius; it’s thermal vision, remember?” Before planetfall, Duncan would have flinched at the mistake, and of all the Crewe, the chief was still the one whose ribbing he found hardest to abide. But whatever reservation the others—and he himself—harbored over his background as a desk jockey had faded: enough so that the present slipup elicited a smile rather than sweat.

Eku glanced up as the torch shifted forward. “Major, even scanning the hatchway from back here, the REM rate is dropping. So is the temperature of the open area below.” He studied the floor as if he suspected it of conspiring to conceal a secret. “It is possible that the level beneath us is partially or wholly subterranean.”

As Duncan nodded to acknowledge Eku’s report, Girten hissed something back at O’Garran, who shook his head. “What’s up, Chief?”

“Damn tinker is now completely tangled in the tripwire. One move and we ring the doorbell of whoever’s waiting down there. My recommendation is we get ready to launch a full-on assault. That means doing it with light, since surprise is out of the question.”

Duncan felt more than saw Cruvanor’s and Marcanas’ eyes turning toward him . . . just as Zhathragz’s voice came over his shoulder. “Leader Duncan, there is another way.”

Solsohn managed not to frown; after his personal experience with “Gifts” and “Talents,” he’d be happiest never having to hear about them again, much less deal with them as a CO. But “happy” and “CO” were contradictory concepts, anyhow, so . . . “Tell me. Quickly.”

“I can prevent the alarm from working.”

Duncan raised an eyebrow. “You seem very sure of that.”

Cruvanor leaned in. “I believe he has reason to be. Assuming that whoever set the tripwire has not warded it. “

Zhathragz’s reply fit smoothly into the war leader’s carefully telegraphed pause. “It is not warded, Lord Cruvanor. I am certain of it.”

Cruvanor glanced at Duncan and shrugged. “I believe he could solve the problem.

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