Part 5 (2/2)

'Why? I knew you were playing possum. One of your oldest tricks.' She jerked her arm away and headed off after the others. Townsend stood and shook his head. Some people . . .

Seven minutes later, three convoys of troopers, along with four laser cannons, roared towards the shuttlefield. Troopers rushed around like excited ants, covering the perimeter fence from every conceivable angle and waiting.

Two minutes went by, a shuttle took off and as it attained five hundred feet, the laser cannons opened fire. The troopers ducked as molten metal and plastic rained down around them.

After clearing up the bodies of their ma.s.sacred comrades, the contingent left, leaving just a skeleton staff to administrate the area.

Half an hour on and a second shuttle took off, ignoring the futile hand-blaster shots that accompanied it from the troopers. Seconds later the craft zoomed out of sight and away from j.a.petus.

All right, take the main feed from number three, then. What the h.e.l.l's your problem?' Tugging on a loose thread from her thick woollen jumper in frustration, and noting with some distaste that the hole in the cuff got bigger, Ker'a'nol stomped angrily away from one of the holocamera technicians. 'Cretin,' she spat angrily.

'Problems?'

Ker'a'nol looked up. ”Yeah. And you're the biggest right now. What are you doing here, anyway? Think I can't run my own news crew without you holding my tail, yeah?' Underlining her anger, the short grey tail that poked out of the back of her slacks flicked.

The human her annoyance was aimed at placed a hand on his chest, a false look of total innocence and hurt crossing his middle-aged face. 'My dearest Keri, I wouldn't dare suggest such a thing. I'd like to return home with all my bodily extremities still in place.'

Keri rubbed her face and snout with both hands and then threw her immediate superior a withering look. 'Listen, Neal, I've been all over this galaxy. I've covered atrocities on the Nematodian Border, I've lived with Orion android warriors on Bala and spent ten months of my life pretending to be a Rigellon's bond-slave, all to get the best stories for GFTV-3. Rest a.s.sured, I don't need your . . . somewhat large bulk, getting in the way of me covering a blasted feudal monarchy event. Now sod off and let me do my job!'

Neal Corry smiled and shook his head as the fiery Pakhar stomped off, swearing at any of the camera or sound technicians that got in her way. He turned to Jav, the Pakhar operator of holocamera two. 'How long's she been in such a charming mood?'

Jav shrugged. 'Forever? My first time working with her. Can't say I'm impressed.'

Corry paused. I thought you covered Operation ”Galactic Storm” with her?'

Jav looked at Corry for a moment before replying. err . . . no. Wasn't me.'

He wandered away before Corry could say anything else.

'Problems?'

A familiar question from a familiar voice. Corry found himself smiling even before he turned around.

'Reece? Nic Reece?' Corry grabbed the newcomer's hand and shook it somewhat over-enthusiastically.

Reece nodded and extracted his left hand, flexing the fingers subconsciously to try and get the blood running again. The Federation's Earth representative to Peladon smiled at the GFTV-3 producer. It must have been a long time, Neal. Good to see you.'

Neal Corry waved his hands dramatically around him, almost beheading a pa.s.sing sound technician. 'Wonderful place you've got here, Nicholas. Any good bars?'

'On Peladon? Do me a favour. There's a mad woman here, the king's high priestess who, given half a chance, would disembowel us and offer our entrails as a sacrifice just for suggesting alcohol was on the planet.'

'Good thing I brought a crate of bourbon, eh!' Corry laughed, and slapped Reece on the back.

Reece looked around furtively. 'Let's go and discuss this in private, old man,' and he led Corry away.

Their retreating forms were watched by the GFTV-3 technicians.

Holocameraman Jav gave Reece an extra long, hard look before returning to work.

Geban watched as Keri approached him. He still couldn't quite get used to the idea of what to him seemed like a giant plain-rat running a Federation communications system. Still, she'd requested an audience, and it was his job to greet her.

'Well, do I get to see the king?'

She went straight to the point. Geban smiled to himself. Thankfully Atissa wasn't present - such ignorance of protocol would have caused her to go screeching to Aggedor's spirit for days. Then again, that did have its advantages . . .

'Good evening, Ms Keri. His Majesty, King Tarrol of Peladon has agreed to see you. Before we enter, may I ask if I can get you any refreshment?'

Keri looked Geban straight in the eye, her whiskers twitching furiously and her snout slightly wrinkled. 'Yeah. A good sonic shower to get your blasted trisilicate dust out of my fur and clothes. And some heating and light down in those tunnels. Yeah.'

Geban nodded at each complaint. 'The trisilicate I can do nothing about, I'm afraid. It is part of this planet's structure and although most of it has long since been mined out, trace elements are still within the atmosphere.

Our king is looking into ways of increasing the heating within the tunnels.

When the Federation removed their mining operations, they also removed their humidity controls. The lighting cannot be improved - our generators cannot run much more or the dwelling areas will be deprived. We did have more but -'

'Yeah, I know. When the Federation miners moved out, they took the phosphoric lighting controls. Blasted miners. Blasted Federation. How about you kick my boss off planet - that'll do for now!'

Geban took a moment to realize who she meant. Then he smiled. 'Ah, the .

. . extrovert Mister Corry. With the alcohol on his skimmer.'

'He's got alcohol? On Peladon? Oh, wonderful, how to get us all kicked off.

What is the IQ rating of a holostation boss, eh Geban? Minus ten million by the look of it. Yeah.'

'Not to worry. So long as it stays on his skimmer and our high priestess doesn't find out, I think we're safe.'

Keri looked up at the chancellor eagerly. 'No, please, tell her! It'll get that git off your planet and my back. And sacked with any luck.'

I thought he owned GFTV-3?'

Keri nodded. 'He does. It was just wishful thinking, yeah. Now, where's the king?'

Unconsciously echoing Corry's sentiments, Geban found he liked the fiery little Pakhar. She was a refres.h.i.+ng change to the formal Federation visitors Peladon usually had.

Slowly the chancellor opened the throne room doors and King Tarrol looked up from his throne. As Keri entered her whole demeanour changed, and Geban noted another positive attribute to the Pakhar. She curtsied and deferred to the king most properly.

'May I have permission to address the king?'

Tarrol nodded and waved her forward.

'My most gracious thanks to Your Majesty, King Tarrol of Peladon, for granting me an audience at this most busy time,' she continued. I hope I will not take up more than a few moments of your valuable time.'

Geban listened for a trace of sarcasm or insincerity in her voice, but there didn't appear to be any. He caught his king's eye. Tarrol had also heard of Keri's reputation, and he too was clearly impressed by her. The king motioned her forward.

'My Lady Ker'a'nol, you are a welcome visitor to my throne room. Your reputation of bravery and-' he quickly tried to think of the correct phrase, 'your investigative journalism has reached even Peladon. It is our honour to have you as a guest.'

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