The Copernicus Deception (The Human Chronicles Saga Book 15) (19 page)

The Gradis cargo ship was still on an even keel, although the landing blast had shoved it twenty meters to the south where it now pressed up against a stack of rusting starship fuselages, with a third of it buried under the wreckage. The Silean’s sleek and shiny-hulled executive vessel was in the best condition, although it would need a new coat of paint and a good buff job after this.

Onix’s crew were just now venturing out into the clear. They milled around their vessel, checking for any damage. They may have to make a hasty departure.

Coop spoke into a wrist communicator. “Dora, what’s the status of the other Juirean ships?”

“There are no other ships, Copernicus.”

“Only one?”

“Yes.”

He looked at Adam. Juireans always traveled in packs, especially when an Overlord was present.

A double hatch on the side of the Juirean craft slid open and two tall creatures emerged, one with a great mane of white hair rising above his head before cascading halfway down his back. He wore the ceremonial robe of a regional commander. In light of the recent annexation of the Frontier, the Overlord would have tremendous authority and discretion.

Next to the imposing figure was a green-haired Juirean Guard, more-than-likely the ship’s captain. Only these two Juireans approached, feeling confident in their status.

The Overlord focused his attention on Onix.

“A Silean. Who should you be?”

“I am Onix Gru of the Silean Trade Federation.”

The Juirean glanced at the ugly Gradis cargo ship to his left. “Among other affiliations, I am sure.” He turned his attention back to the gathering. “I am Overlord Esketon Hann, the senior governing official of the Kidis Frontier, which as you all know is a recent addition to the Expansion. Direct us to a meeting room. There is much to discuss.”

A stream of Juirean Guards poured from the warship, making a beeline for the Gradis ship.
They know about the orb
, Adam thought.

Back in Coop’s office, the Juireans sat in the chairs Adam and Riyad had occupied, as the Silean squeezed into his, with Copernicus behind the desk. Extra chairs were brought in for the other two Humans.

Coop began: “May I ask what this—”

“The Expansion is assuming control of this facility effective immediately.”

“On what authority?”

The Overlord stared at Copernicus with intense yellow eyes. “On my authority, Human. Union members were given ten standard days to vacate Expansion territory. You have failed to do so.”

“I’m not a member of the Union.”

“You are a Human.”

“That doesn’t mean I’m a Unionist. I’m an independent. I have been for years.”

“And yet you affiliate with notorious figures with long histories of abuse against the Expansion.” Esketon shifted his attention to Adam and Riyad, who were sitting next to the desk on the Overlord’s left.

“If I’m not mistaken,” Adam began, “there aren’t any outstanding warrants against us within the Expansion…not at this time.”

“That may be so, yet you surely are Unionists, rather famous ones at that. Being in Expansion territory without permission is a violation in itself. Yet we will discuss that further.” He looked back at Copernicus. “There is also the issue of your affiliation with and support of the smuggler cartels.”

“I take repairs calls and I service them, regardless of affiliation.”

“Enough with your denials, Human. We know you are currently engaged in a conspiratorial endeavor with the Gradis. That ship in your repair yard is proof of this.”

“It was brought here for repairs, that’s all.”

“Then you will not grieve when we take permanent possession of the vessel.”

“My Lord,” said Onix. “Mister Smith does not have ownership of the vessel.”

“You do—I know.”

“It is registered under title of the Trade Federation. We currently have contracts with the Expansion. Since the Frontier is now part of the Expansion, would not these contracts have precedent in Kidis, as well?”

“During the transition period nothing takes precedent over my actions, Onix Gru. Your legal maneuverings may ultimately prevail, yet not before that ship out there has been completely dismantled. There is something aboard that many people are quite anxious to acquire. I will learn what that is, unless you are willing to be forthcoming with me.”

“I do not know what you are—”

The head of the Juirean Overlord suddenly exploded, spraying tuffs of blood-stained white hair on Adam and Riyad. There was a moment of shock and confusion, until the Juirean Guard rose from his seat, a flash weapon held steady in his hand. He waved the deadly weapon at the other stunned occupants of the room. There was a thin grin on his face.

He lifted his left wrist and spoke into a communicator. “This is Guard Captain Annoc. The Humans have killed Overlord Esketon. Inform Juirean Command. Take control of this facility immediately and dispatch anyone who resists.”

“We didn’t kill anyone?” Adam yelled. He went to rise from his chair, but the Juirean’s flash weapon aimed at his mid-section gave him second thoughts.

“That is not how the official report will read, Adam Cain. It will be you—along with Riyad Tarazi—both agents of the Union, who will be charged with the assassination. It will be the provocation needed to declare war on the Union.”

The blast from Coop’s Beretta was extraordinarily loud in the close confines of the office. He fired from under his desk, in the opening between the two pedestal legs. The slug ripped into the upper thigh on the Juirean’s right leg. The second shot, delivered a fraction of a second later from a standing Copernicus Smith, was center mass.

Adam had the alien’s flash weapon in his hand a second later.

The Beretta was now aimed at him.

“What now, Coop? Does it all end here?”

“No, but it might be a good time to start thinking about options. Seeing that the Juireans have effectively shut me down, I need to shift my retirement fund to a new plan.” He turned and opened the drawer of the credenza and removed the plastic box. The orb was gone.

Adam reached into his shirt pocket and removed the orb.

“You son-of-bitch!” Copernicus yelled, pointing the gun back at Adam. “Give it to me—”

“Okay,” came the reply to Coop’s right.

Riyad’s shoulder slammed into Copernicus, dislodging the Beretta and sending both of them tumbling to the floor. Adam jumped over the desk and landed on the heap, before rolling Coop over on his back and pressing the flash weapon against his temple.

Click

“Level-1, buddy,” Adam said. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

“It’s a little late for that,” Coop said. “The whole compliment of a Class-3 will be in here any second.”

Riyad and Adam hoisted Copernicus up and threw him onto the desktop. Onix sat in petrified shock, unable to move at the sight of the dead Juireans and the fighting Humans.

“Is there another way out of here?” Adam asked Coop.

“Always.”

“Get with it!”

Copernicus came off the desk and stepped to the interior wall next to where Adam and Riyad had been seated. He shifted an ornament on the credenza and a door-size section of the wall popped open, following the lines of the wood planks. Adam shoved Coop through the opening with Riyad close behind. Once through, Adam pulled the panel shut, leaving the Silean alone in the office with the bodies.

Through the wall, they heard a commotion, then yelling…followed by the discharge of a flash weapon.

Turning his attention to the room they were in, Adam found it be a high-tech command center, with comm equipment, computers—and weapons. Lots of weapons.

He looked at Copernicus and cocked his head. “So, just a simple repairman, huh?”

“A person has to keep up on affairs. This is my sanctuary for doing so.”

Riyad was already raiding the weapons cache, concentrating on the M-97 assault rifles, the .45 cal handguns, along with clips of ammunition.

Copernicus had his back to Adam, watching Riyad, when the butt of the MK-17 slammed against the back of his neck. He collapsed to the floor, unconscious.

“I was wondering what you had in mind?” Riyad said.

“We’ve got enough worries without having to keep an eye on him.” Adam moved over to the weapons rack and began arming up. In seconds the two Humans had more firepower on their bodies than the entire crew of the Juirean Class-3 had with their flash weapons.

‘This must have been where he went when he disappeared in his bedroom,” Riyad said. “There’s another door by the comm equipment.”

“There’s one over here, too. This one will lead outside.”

Adam was right. Behind the weapons racks was another doorway, operated by a latch. They moved to it and then carefully turned the handle.

Brilliant tropical light poured into the room from outside. The sound of flash weapons discharging was all around, as the Gradis crew and troops from the Class-3 were engaged in a pitched fire fight. From this vantage point, Adam and Riyad could see the smugglers’ position near their ship was about to be overrun by the vastly superior number of Juirean Guards. The outer hatch of their ship had been blown away, so there would no escaping into space. The fight was just about over.

“Kaylor and Jym,” Adam said. “We have to get them.”

“Roger that.”

The pair raced through the doorway, running for the
FS-475
. The fighting was at the other end of the landing field, so they reached the ship without being spotted. The outer hatch was unlocked and the sentry who had been posted there was nowhere to be found. Adam stood guard as Riyad ran inside to recover their two alien friends. An agonizingly long twenty second later the three emerged through the hatchway.

“What now?” Riyad asked.

Adam had been surveying the battlefield. The Gradis ship where Z had been found was too far away and covered with derelicts. Coop’s ship was on the other side of the headquarters building, shielded from view. The closest vessel with the most horsepower was the one belonging to Onix Gru.

Adam smiled; the Silean wouldn’t be needing the ship any longer.

“Follow me,” he ordered.

But no sooner had they left the side of the
FS-475,
than two Juireans appeared in front of them, Xan-fi rifles at the ready.

“Stop and surrender,” one of them cried out.

Adam’s trigger finger stiffened.

Just then, a large shadow next to Kaylor’s ship reached out and snapped off the head of the lead Juirean. A split second later, Ginger had pounced on the other Guard, with her huge head ripping at the neck of the alien.

“Good girl!” Adam called out.

Ginger looked up at him with a mouthful of bloody Juirean flesh. Her tail began to wag.

“Hurry!” Adam said, leading the foursome past the feeding dinosaur and toward the executive starship.

The hatch was closed, but Adam managed to locate the door controls with his ATD. They streamed inside without breaking stride.

Turning to the right, they all entered the small yet lavishly-appointed pilothouse. Adam slipped into a leather-padded pilot seat. “Damn, this is nice,” he mumbled.