Protector of the Realm (8 page)

“The commodore will take care of this situation.” Gemma obviously supported her superior without hesitation. “There. Let’s get this bandaged. I’ll work on the skin tomorrow.”

Kellen inhaled deeply as her stomach twitched. Was she going to be back here tomorrow, or would she be on her way to prison? Gemma and Jacelon’s close association reminded Kellen that she and Armeo were alone on this base. These SC citizens would prove their allegiance to Jacelon and the power she represented, which made Kellen the outsider, and this was yet another dangerous position.

Rae returned and quickly crossed the floor. “All set? Come with me.” She helped Kellen off the gurney and looked her over with sharp eyes. “You okay?”

Carefully trying her leg, Kellen was delighted that she was once again able to put weight on her leg without any searing pain. “Yes.”

“You need to change clothes.” Rae glanced at the guard. “Take Ms. O’Dal back to her quarters and give her a neutral uniform. Gemma, make sure Armeo knows his guardian isn’t here. Arrange for him to stay with someone he knows.”

“Yes, Commodore.”

“I won’t leave without Armeo,” Kellen objected, refusing to move. “I’m not going anywhere or changing into anything until you tell me what’s going on.”
And enough time to lose the guard, find Armeo, and leave before you guess my intentions.

Rae had begun to walk toward the door, but now she stopped and whirled around with an impatient look on her face. “We don’t have time,” she said. “Ambassador M’Ekar has passed our outer markers with twelve of his vessels. He’s violated SC law. I have to deploy the fleet and prepare for battle.”

“Why do I have to be there?”

“You’re the reason he’s here, and you’re in danger. I don’t have time to explain the details yet.” Rae’s glance softened a fraction. “Trust me, Kellen. If you want to keep Armeo safe and in your life, you need to come with me now.”

Rae’s voice and her gaze were both steady, leaving no room for objections. Kellen examined every one of her reasons to remain suspicious of her motives and found them all valid. Nobody in authority had ever proven trustworthy in the past.

Still, another part of her, something buried deep within the rarely visited caverns of her soul, insisted Rae was what she seemed, trustworthy and protective. To Kellen’s amazement, this persistent inner voice threatened to drown out her suspicions. She snapped her head back, her contempt still simmering. “Very well. I will do as you say.”

“Be ready in ten minutes. See you at port 1.”

As Kellen changed into a plain SC military uniform, she made a disdainful face at herself in the full-length mirror, unaccustomed to wearing such attire. Like most Gantharians, she connected the practice of wearing a uniform with the Onotharian occupational forces.

She straightened the leathermix jacket. Her security guard had explained the materials, probably guessing how alien they were to her. The jacket’s synthetic material felt soft against her fingers. The blue trousers were made of thermilon, able to keep their wearer comfortable regardless of outer temperature. Kellen stuck her feet into the knee-high, black leathermix boots outfitted with an auto-refreshing thermo-lining. She remembered with a smirk how the guard pointed out their self-cleaning feature.
Never anything but shiny boots in the SC fleet.

Five minutes later, at port 1, Kellen saw the docks filled with crewmen on their way to the ships.

Large portholes overlooked the vessels moored outside. The largest ship, a destroyer, was anchored to her left, and her guard guided her to the entry gate. “Kellen O’Dal is the commodore’s guest,” he said. “Permission to come aboard.”

The ensign stationed at the gate checked his computer. “Affirmative. Permission granted.”

The security guard checked his chronometer. “You have less than four minutes to report to the bridge, Ms. O’Dal.”

Kellen was not unaccustomed to being aboard a tightly run ship and lengthened her stride, moving faster than her guard as they hurried through the gate and rushed down a corridor with transparent walls. They reached the ship’s main door, where they repeated the procedure and once more obtained permission to come aboard. A tall, muscular woman wearing a security officer’s insignia walked up to Kellen.

“Ms. O’Dal, I’m Lieutenant Owena Grey, chief tactical officer on
Gamma VI
. I have orders to escort you to the bridge. Come with me.”

“Thank you.”

Kellen followed the dark-haired woman through long corridors. All around her, crew members scrambled to reach their posts as one message after another boomed over the ship-wide comm system. They saluted Lieutenant Grey with hurried movements, which she acknowledged with a brisk, “Carry on, please.” Of the same height as Kellen, Grey moved with the pantherlike grace of someone trained in combat skills and the martial arts. She wore her black hair pinned up in a tight twist, and her uniform was immaculate. Her eyes were dark blue under black eyebrows and straight bangs. Sharp angles and planes helped form a strong, formidable face.

The bridge, on deck 1, was controlled chaos. Ensigns manned the post along the semicircular wall, standing behind computer consoles and talking in low voices into their communicators all at once. Lieutenants manned four more consoles within the outer circle. One was empty, and Kellen guessed it was Lieutenant Grey’s post on the bridge. The main view screen on the far wall depicted the vast space outside
Gamma VI
.

Kellen took in the scene, listened to the intent voices, and felt the rising tension before battle. Suddenly taken back in time to her years in the Gantharian Academy of Pilots, she found it amazingly familiar to observe these people prepare as a team for the same goal. Once she had thought she would pretend to cooperate with the Onotharians and try to change the system from within. Her life had not worked out that way. Instead she had lost not only her chance to make a difference, but also everyone she’d ever cared about, except Armeo. A part of her connected now with the unique mix of exhilaration and dread that preceded a space mission.

“Three minutes to launch.” A voice pierced through the conversation, and everyone scrambled.

The two command chairs sat on a dais between the four stations. Even if a couple of lieutenants obscured her vision, Kellen recognized the voice the moment the woman occupying the chair spoke.

“Ms. O’Dal, ma’am.” Lieutenant Grey rounded the consoles and approached the chair.

“Thank you, Lieutenant.” Rae stood, stepped off the dais, and glanced at Kellen, while Lieutenant Grey assumed her duties at the vacant computer console.

“Can I help?” Kellen asked as the commodore approached. “After all, I am a pilot.”

“That would be a breach of protocol, but how are your navigational skills?”

“Quite good, ma’am.” Astounded at how easy she fell into the crisp military language, Kellen feared she sounded impudent.

She waited for Rae’s disapproval, but to her surprise, Rae nodded. “All right. Join Ensign S’hos at the navigation console. He’s as new as you are on the
Ajax
.”

Kellen nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” She noticed several officers furtively watching her when she walked over to the young man’s station. Kellen wondered if they realized they were deploying because of her actions.

*

Rae sat in the command chair. As the commodore of the
Gamma VI
Space Station, she did not have to captain destroyers herself, but she preferred to take the conn while in space.

“Our XO is aboard, in engineering. On our way, people. Release locks.”

“Aye, ma’am. Locks away.”

“Take us out, Lieutenant D’Artansis. Thrusters only.”

“Aye, Commodore.” The pilot punched commands into the computer and maneuvered the small joystick skillfully.

Rae watched her favorite pilot get to work. The young-looking Cormanian, Leanne D’Artansis, was a divinely gifted pilot who handled any vessel as if it were an extension of her slender arms. Her strawberry blond hair, secured by a SC Fleet-issued hairclip, ran like fresh water down her back and reached well below her shoulder blades. Rae knew every one of the pilot’s peers loved and treasured her. Her laughter was contagious, and her glittering personality automatically drew people in. Leanne was rare--a truly kind person.

The
Ajax
, equipped with the best technology and weaponry the Supreme Constellations could assemble, glided by the six smaller frigates waiting to accompany the vessel on an intercept flight to Ambassador M’Ekar’s fleet. Each frigate carried eight small assault craft manned by a pilot and a navigator.

“We’ve passed Gamma’s outer perimeter, Commodore,” Ensign S’hos reported.

“Very good. Wait for the frigates and go to half-impulsion until we’re at a safe distance, then field-distortion drive six.”

“Aye, ma’am,” Leanne replied smartly.

Rae checked the small computer console next to her chair. She still didn’t see any new information from the Council. That meant Kellen was still safe but also that they were going into battle. Though Ambassador M’Ekar had insisted he had connections in high places, so far he hadn’t produced a shred of proof.

“All frigates in position, Commodore.”

“All right. Leap to field-distortion drive six.”

Stars became streaks of light as the destroyer leaped to field-distortion drive. Rae felt a slight tremor reverberate through the vessel as the dynamic vibration absorber, the DVA, engaged. She glanced over at the navigation console. Kellen held a small computer and was making calculations. Ensign S’hos glanced over Kellen’s shoulder, asking questions in a low voice. Rae hid a smile. She wasn’t surprised Kellen had taken over and was in fact more knowledgeable than the young ensign. She watched Kellen demonstrate something to S’hos, earning a vigorous nod from him.

“How long before we reach our destination, Ensign S’hos?” Rae asked.

His yellow eyes shimmered. “Two hours and forty minutes, ma’am.”

“Very good.” She heard someone occupy the XO’s chair next to her. “Good of you to join us, Commander Todd.”

“Sorry, ma’am. The problems in engineering took longer than expected.”

“You have the conn. I’ll be in my office.” Rae stood up and glanced at the view screen in front. “Page me when we’re within range of the ambassador and his fleet.”

“Aye, ma’am.”

“Ms. O’Dal, join me in my office.”

She walked across the bridge toward a door at the far end and waited as Kellen put the small computer down and followed her. Inside, she pointed toward the visitors’ chair on the opposite side of the desk. “Take a seat. How’s the leg?”

“Fine. I prefer to stand. Can you tell me now why I’m here? Have you changed your mind about me after all and intend to hand me over to M’Ekar?” Kellen stubbornly remained on her feet, which reminded Rae of their first face-to-face encounter.

She recognized the fear and anger behind Kellen’s arrogant tone. Examining Kellen’s posture, she sensed how uneasy she felt. Her blue-tinged fingers tapped against her thighs, and she seemed to be forcing herself to breathe evenly. It was as if all of her feelings simmered just beneath her skin, ready to erupt and cause havoc at a moment’s notice.

“Please, do take a seat, Kellen.” Rae watched Kellen finally relent after a few seconds. She sat down and carefully extended her injured leg. Rae joined her and sat down behind the desk. She wasn’t quite sure why it felt appropriate to keep the piece of furniture between them. “And as for your question, absolutely not. That’s the point of this whole display. M’Ekar is trying to place himself above SC law.” She paused for effect. “
No one
is above the law. I mean to stop him. It’s that simple. We’re treating him as we would treat a pirate.

“The law is fascinating, with many facets. For instance, if Ambassador M’Ekar has connections within the Council and obtains supporting documentation, legally I would have to turn you over.”

Kellen paled. “What?”

“Of course, there’s usually a loophole. We have means to insure you cannot be extradited, and if you have to stand trial, you could do so in an SC court of law.”

“What do I have to do?” Kellen spread her hands in a wide circle that emphasized her words. “Just tell me, I’ll do it.”

Rae could tell Kellen had taken a leap into battle mode in one effortless moment. She paused, then said, “You have to marry a Supreme Constellations citizen and remain married for at least five years.”

Kellen looked stunned. Her shoulders slumped, and a desolate expression spread over her paling features as she sank back into the chair. “It’s hopeless, then,” she murmured. “If he uses his connections, and he will, I won’t stand a chance. Who would marry me? I don’t know anyone within SC space.”

Rae leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk. She didn’t see any blue tears yet, but she knew they weren’t far away. Suddenly, she had a strong urge to keep them at bay no matter the cost.

“Commodore…Rae, please.” Kellen’s voice sounded raw with emotion. “Send me back to the station and give me access to my ship. Now. Armeo and I will have to take our chances. I can’t allow M’Ekar to get his hands on Armeo and use him as his puppet. You know that!” Placing one hand over her heart, she reached the other one across the desk, palm up. “You’ve guessed what kind of man M’Ekar is. Armeo and I still have a chance to get away if you stall him. If it means running and hiding, I don’t care. We’ll just have to do it.”