Part 55 (1/2)

”Good. That should be after the Columbus lands--or will she need more time, Captain DeLayne?”

”Less, Colonel. She should be airborne by now, landing any minute.

Scouts sometimes have to lift off at almost no notice, so regulations forbid a complete engine shutdown outside Imperial s.p.a.ce.”

”Sensible,” Cortin agreed. ”I seldom get to watch s.p.a.cecraft land; would it be safe to go out and watch yours?”

”I don't see why not, as long as we stay close to the house.”

Even a small s.p.a.cecraft was large--fitting hyperdrive in anything less than a hundred meters long seemed to be impossible--and Cortin knew this scout was one of the smallest of the Imperial s.h.i.+p cla.s.ses. But that didn't seem to help as she watched it descend into her side yard.

Nothing that big should be able to move under its own power!

But it did, settling slowly onto the gra.s.s, sinking until she wasn't sure it would ever stop. Finally, though, it did, and she thought ruefully that her head gardener was probably wis.h.i.+ng her in h.e.l.l for what she'd done to his beloved lawn. And this wouldn't be the worst of it; the entire estate grounds would soon be a mess, with troops camped and living on them. Well, so be it; she'd been consigned to h.e.l.l often enough, especially by the Brothers and a.s.sorted other terrorists and criminals.

When the s.h.i.+p's main hatch opened, DeLayne turned to her. ”Normally I wouldn't invite someone from outside the Empire aboard my s.h.i.+p, but under the circ.u.mstances, you're welcome any time.” He grinned at her.

”Someone who's called for Imperial help isn't going to sabotage us, after all.”

”Quite true, and I'd like to take advantage of your offer when time permits, but His Majesty didn't say anything about my workload being reduced. So until he does, or Ranger Medart arrives and I don't have time for anything else, I think I should keep to my usual schedule.”

”Or lack of it,” Odeon put in.

”Or lack of it,” Cortin agreed. ”As active as the Brotherhood's been of late, I don't get much time off; my only semi-free day is Sunday.

If you have no objection, I would like to visit then.”

”As I said, you'll be welcome any time.” DeLayne hesitated. ”You've mentioned this Brotherhood several times, in context that makes it sound like it could be a threat to my crew. What is it?”

”The Brotherhood of Freedom,” Cortin said. ”They're a collection of terrorists, the worst in our history. Their leader, Lawrence Shannon, ordered them to disband before he disappeared about four months ago, but except for a few low-ranking ones, that didn't happen. Yes, they could be a threat to your people. I doubt they'd be stupid enough to attack Harmony Lodge, though I prefer not to take chances--which is why I wanted the extra Strike Force troopers. Outside the grounds is likely to be a different story, though, so I'd strongly recommend any of your people leaving the compound have at least one trooper with them, and that they be armed. If they are attacked, I'd appreciate it if they'd shoot to wound, rather than to kill; we can't get information from the dead.”

”We can do that easily enough,” DeLayne said. ”I'll order blasters set on stun--with that request, I gather you don't have that option?”

”Bullets don't stun, no,” Cortin said. ”You intrigue me--could I try one of those blasters?”

”I don't see why not,” DeLayne replied. ”The s.h.i.+p wouldn't let your people into our armory, so we have plenty. Let me get my quartermaster to bring you one.”

”I'll be glad to do it, sir,” Conley put in.

”Very well, Miss Conley. Have it logged as a permanent transfer, along with a spare powerpack and charger.”

”Yes, sir.” Conley boarded the s.h.i.+p, emerging moments later with the specified equipment, as well as a holster and pouch for the blaster and spare powerpack. She handed them to Cortin, smiling. ”I'll be glad to show you how to use them, if you'd like.”

”I would, if your Captain doesn't mind.”

”No objection,” DeLayne said. ”In fact, if you don't mind, I'd like to appoint her as our individual Special Liaison from the Empire to the Kingdom Systems until Ranger Medart arrives. She can stay at your Lodge, but I think the rest of us should go back to living on the Columbus.”

”If you wish, Captain.” Cortin smiled at the young woman. ”But the final decision will have to be yours, Miss Conley. I should warn you, a.s.sociating with an Inquisitor will do nothing to improve your social standing in the Systems; we may be respected, but we certainly aren't popular.”

Conley laughed. ”Since I won't be in the Systems long, I'm not worried--I'd love to learn what I can about you and your people, and--”

she glanced at her Captain, hesitating.