Part 15 (1/2)

It was difficult to tell who had fired first: there was silence, and then the hallway rang and buzzed with Kanovsky full-deterrent ammuni- tion and Bahkoyn high impact sh.e.l.ls. The ornamental friezes above the dropshafts splin- tered and sh.e.l.ls gouged long grooves in the floor.

Four Navy soldiers dropped at the first onslaught, three dead and one wounded. Treas- ury guards' repellent-field uniforms managed better, though two men were wounded.

The firing increased and there were screams and howls everywhere, from Navy soldiers, Treasury Guards, clerks, automatic alarm sys- tems. The noise was as frightening as the sh.e.l.ls being fired.

”We're getting out of here,” Sergeant Mallas told Jessine, wriggling back and sideways from thefirefight.

The Treasury troops moved toward the Navy unit, clearly holding the advantage. The Navy soldiers retreated back toward the tomb-like

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Chelsea Quinn farbro

cubicle offices, taking more time to aim and fire than they had done at first. Behind them at the far end of the hall clerks were screaming and running, many-with their arms full ofdataspools.

Sergeant Mallas inched his way closer to the dropshafts. ”Just one floor up,” he reminded Jessine. ”You can do it easy. You slide back, stand up real carefully - you don't want to pinwheel.”

”What about you?” she asked as she did her best to follow his instructions.

”I'm right behind you.” He kept his railgun in position to fire, watching the guards drive the Navy out of the hall.

Jessine slipped into the dropshaft, steadying herself in the field, taking care to stay balanced and oriented properly. A bullet ricocheted off the floor and struck Sergeant Mallas square in the chest just as he was easing back into the dropshaft. He gave a single grunt, then his rail- gun dropped from his fingers. He fell sideways, slipping beyond the field's stability; his corpse began to turn slowly, then moved steadily faster in the dropshaft beside Jessine as she rose to the floor above. She heard shots behind her, but didn't dare look back as she stepped out. Prob- ably some other faction was attacking the Navy - Sclerida's men.

Jessine jogged along the corridor and swung

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around a comer into the Appointments Com- munications Center. It had been transformed into a command post for the defense of the Sec- retary's Palace and was as crowded as the corridor had been. Stopped, she saw that five railguns were aimed at her. Only the sudden shouts of two alien supervisors stopped the clerks manning the guns from firing.

A Magdarite with orange ruff fully extended around his vulpine face, rushed forward, bowing in recognition. ”Madame Bouriere. How ... for- tunate to see you.” He seemed confused but determined to behave correctly no matter how strange their circ.u.mstances.

Jessine took this as well as she could, but she felt at a marked disadvantage. ”I don't know what's . . . developed. Its been so - ” She stopped, gesturing her lack of words.

”Untypical.” the Magdarite supplied, doing his best to look calm- ”We're getting the situation in hand now, as you can see.” He bowed to the sol- diers and clerks. ”It is a great honor to defend you in this difficult hour.”

”It is an honor to be defended by you.” Jessine nodded regally. ”Can I get on the other side of these guns now?”

Finally, he led her around the railguns and past a barricade of office furniture. A little

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giddily, Jessine wondered if double-decker desks were the daily operating standard. ”You'll want to see Kitehiey,” a.s.sumed the Magdarite.

”Yes, please.”

”Bight this way, Madame Bouriere,” the Mag- darite said as he started through a maze of cubicles.