Euthara (13 page)

“Yes Sir,” Carla said. She was already barking orders to people off screen as Jon was speaking. Jon smiled and was happy the way she had been changing as her training progressed.

“Take care up there, contact me if you need anything, Hunter out,” Jon said.

“You too, Sir,” Carla said as she saluted, and the hologram switched back to the map.

“Then on that note I’ll take my leave and return to the Titan,” Gilas said. He turned and started for the door.

“Gilas,” Jon said.

Gilas stopped and turned around.

“Trust me,” Jon said. “We both want the same thing here.”

“Jon, you’ve always had my trust,” Gilas said. “From the moment I met you I knew you were trustworthy. Nothing has changed to make me think any different. Sometimes, I just don’t understand why you’re doing something, so I ask or give my opinion.”

“Good, you keep doing that. It will lessen the mistakes I make,” Jon said.

Gilas nodded as he turned back and stepped outside.

‘Sandpiper to base,’ Terri’s voice said.

“Go ahead, Sandpiper,” an officer said.

‘We’re engaged; I repeat we’re engaged,’ Terri said. ‘I’ve lost two wingmen, and another has heavy damage and is en route back to base. Requesting permission to engage hostiles.’

“Sandpiper you have permission to engage the hostiles,” Jon said. He pointed at an officer who touched a few buttons on the hologram in front of him. The table switched view and showed Terri and four wingmen being swarmed by Eutharan fighters. “Son of a bitch, they’re inside the boarder too.”

“Lieutenant scramble all remaining fighters and have them intercept Sandpiper,” Mark said. “They are weapons free and cleared to engage all hostiles. They’re not to pursue targets across the border.”

‘Shit, I’m hit; shields are down’ Terri said. ‘I’m rerouting power to stabilizers and port engine. All right everyone, you heard the man; weapons free we’re clear to engage all hostiles.’

“Damn it, if anything happens to her there will be hell to pay,” Jon said. He slammed his fist down on the small planning table. “Get me Eutharan Military Command.”

Nefeit stepped up next to Jon and took his hand in hers and gave it a slight squeeze. Jon looked up at her and gave her a brief smile then took a deep breath.

Jon turned his attention back to the hologram as he watched Terri’s wing-men blink out of existence. Soon it was only her in the middle of the other fighters. She was giving as well as she took as three hostile fighters disappeared. Then Terri’s fighter signature disappeared from the hologram.

“Terri!” Jon said.

‘I’m ok,’ Terri said. ‘I took another hit; several systems are offline and the bots are attempting to repair them.’

The fighters carried smaller versions of the spider bots carried on the larger ships. They could do minor repairs to the fighters during combat.

“Terri, get out of there,” Jon said. “We have fighters in route to your last position but they’re not going to reach you in time.”

‘Already on it,’ Terri said. ‘However, I don’t have guidance and I have no idea where I am. They’re on my tail, but I’m starting to pull away. No, get the IFF back up first don’t worry about life support as I’m not going into space.’

A mechanical beep followed by several beeps at different pitches came across the com.

‘Yes, the IFF, they need to know where I am in case we go down,’ Terri said. The fighter’s engines whined as Terri let out a grunt. ‘Shit that missile was close. I think I’m going to be ok…’ Something like the sound of rain hitting a tin roof came across the open com as Terri swore. ‘I’m hit, I’m hit. Major damage to both engines, I’m going down.’ Then static filled the com as Jon’s jaw dropped.

“Terri?!” Jon said. “Terri, come in.”

“She’s down,” Mark said. “I’m scrambling search and rescue.”

“Sir, the hostiles are pulling back,” an officer said.

“Have the flight groups start a search pattern from the last known location of her fighter,” Mark said.

“How did they know?” Jon said.

“ Know what?” Mark said.

“They knew she was up there,” Jon said. “Their goal was to engage them and shoot her down.”

“I don’t think they knew,” Mark said. “They more likely stumbled on to them and the rest was luck.”

“I would agree with you, had it been just a small patrol,” Jon said. “But that was a squadron. They knew what it would take to put our fighters down.”

“Don’t read too much into it Jon,” Mark said. “There’s a lot of troop movements here and I’m sure they’re increasing their own security. Terri’s ok, she’s a good pilot. We’ll find her alive.”

“Oh, I know she’s ok,” Jon said. “That’s why I’m not freaking out. I can still feel her through the bond. If Deatra were here, she could probably locate her through it. It’s like a chess match; the King knew what he was doing when he recalled Deatra. Then he waited for a clear shot on anyone of importance. From now on, all senior officers will have a guard detail with them at all times. Double up security around the base, bring more troops in if you have too.”

“Sir, Eutharan Military Command is online,” an officer said.

It was a bit late, but Jon decided to talk to them anyway. “Put them through,” Jon said.

“Connected,” the officer said.

“This is Duke Andara,” Andara said. “How can we help you?”

“This is Jonathan Hunter,” Jon said. He let go of Nefeit’s hand and gave her a small peck on the cheek as he turned his full attention to the call. “Some of your fighters have crossed the embassy border and engaged my fighters.”

“Excuse me, embassy?” Andara said. He was trying to sound surprised, but Jon caught the deception.

“You know full well what I’m talking about,” Jon said. “I filed the paperwork in triplicate, and have copies of where, and when, I sent them. Including but not limited to who accepted them. I believe your name was on one of the copies as being received. Time coded and stamped by your own mail delivery system.”

“I received no such documents,” Andara said. “I have no idea…”

“Cut the shit right now,” Jon said. “I’m in no mood to play your petty little games. I sent them through your own mail system and marked them to have a receipt sent to me upon delivery. I have that receipt in my possession, and there is no way you can say you didn’t receive it. So, let’s stop playing games, and get on with why I’ve called.”

“You’ve no right to speak to me like that,” Andara said.

“Until it’s decided that the bond between me and Deatra is false I still carry the title of Prince. No matter what the King, or anyone in the court, says contrary to that, the law is the law; you had better remember that. Or you and I are going to have major problems,” Jon said. “Do I make myself clear?”

“Uh…” Andara said.

“Good, now tell me you saw the documents I sent, and you know what I’m talking about,” Jon said. “If you continue this little charade about missing documents you’re going to piss me off.”

“I really have no idea what you’re talking about,” Andara said.

“Fine have it your way,” Jon said. “I’m dispatching a shuttle with Royal marines to pick you up and bring you here. We can continue this discussion then.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t give you a flight plan right now,” Andara said. “It might be several days before I could fit you in the backlog.”

“Because you have so much going on right?” Jon said.

“We’re very busy routing traffic, and the amount of flight plans in the past couple days have swamped us,” Andara said.

“Hold a second,” Jon said. He muted the communication and opened a new channel to traffic control. A young Eutharan female filled the screen next to Andara.

“This is Prince Hunter-C’loth bond mate to the Princess Deatra,” Jon said. “I’d like to file a royal flight plan to Eutharan Military Command and then back to the embassy.”

She bowed slightly before she spoke, “I need your identification, please, to confirm who you are. I’m sorry, but I have never seen you or heard of you.”

“Of course,” Jon said. He typed in the code Deatra gave him when they arrived at Euthara and transmitted it to the female traffic controller.

“My Prince,” she said after she studied the screen that displayed his information. “When would you like that plan set for? Though, I don’t really see the need as the skies are pretty empty. You could have just filed it through regular channels.”

“Now please,” Jon said. “I would like a copy of the flight plan transmitted to Duke Andara and have several guards hold him until the shuttle arrives please.”

“Oh, OH,” the female said as her eyes widened. “As you wish, I’m transmitting that flight plan now and transmitting your command to the Master-at-Arms on the base.”

“Thank you, you’ve been very helpful,” Jon said.

“Is there anything else I can do for you?” she asked.

“Not right now, thanks though,” Jon said as he closed the channel.

Jon watched Andara’s eyes increase in size several times as he read the transmission from flight control. When he looked up, Jon flipped the channel open.

“You don’t have the authority to do this,” Andara said.

“I do, and I did,” Jon said. “My next action while you’re on your way here will be to pull all of your transmissions all the way back to when I arrived at Ghost Station for the first time.”

“You can’t do that!” Andara said. “Those are private transmissions.”

“I’m a Royal, and it’s in my rights to pull them,” Jon said. “The shuttle is being dispatched now with Royal Marines and Special Forces on it. They will have an escort as well as being watched from orbit. Any hostile action against the shuttle will be met with an equal response.” Jon reached down and muted the com for a second. “Mark, send Oojoung and his unit with the Royal Guards. Make sure the shuttle is displaying the Royal Emblem.”

Mark nodded his head and turned to get things ready as fast as he could.

Jon reconnected the com just in time to hear a beep at Andara’s door. “Enter,” Andara said as he turned to face the door.

Four marines entered the room followed by the Master-at-Arms. “We’re here to escort you to the shuttle when it arrives, Sir,” the Master-at-Arms said.

“I’m not going to any shuttle,” Andara said. “You can stand down and return to your posts.”

“Sorry Sir, but I have my orders from Prince C’loth,” the Master-at-Arms said.

“I’m calling the King,” Andara said.

“No, I don’t think you are,” Jon said. “Master-at-Arms, he’s allowed no calls until he arrives here.”

“Yes my Prince,” the Master-at-Arms said.

Jon could see the gears clicking in Andara’s head as he tried to figure a way out of the situation. Mark held up a finger for Jon to see, it indicated the shuttle was one minute out from its destination. “Fine you win,” Andara said. He was defeated, and he knew it.

“I’m sorry we’ll finish this conversation when you arrive,” Jon said. “The shuttle should be touching down any second. “Master-at-Arms, could you please escort him to the shuttle and turn him over to my men.”

A small grin spread on the man’s face as he answered, “Would be my pleasure Sire.”

Jon watched as the Duke struggled a bit until the cuffs came out, and he gave in. Jon turned, closed the channel and grinned to himself. He had traded a Princess for a Duke and somehow he was sure the King was getting the bad end of that deal.

He called up the Eutharan Archive Commission and had them pull all of the Duke’s transmissions over the past year. There was something going on, and Jon was going to get to the bottom of it. Jon was pretty sure the Duke’s transmissions had some of the answers he sought.

“Well, here is some good news,” Mark said. “All pilots are accounted for and except for some minor scrapes and bruises they’re fine. The bad news is we haven’t found Terri’s fighter and a few of the search teams have reported seeing Eutharan troop movements in the forest.”

“What kind of troop movements?” Jon said.

“They seem to be searching for something as well,” Mark said. “They’re all light patrol units from the numbers coming in.”

“They’re searching for Terri,” Jon said.

“My thoughts as well,” Mark said. “I’ve sent additional units to reinforce our own troops.”

“You tell our troops; they’re to secure Terri at all costs,” Jon said. “I want her returned safely.”

“I’ve already given that order,” Mark said. “I have special forces standing by in the event the Eutharan’s find her first.”

“If they find her first I’m pretty sure she will be executed on the spot,” Jon said.

“Terri won’t go down without a fight,” Mark said. “She has enough supplies and arms in that fighter to hold off a small army. I don’t have to remind you she was trained by Oojoung. Those light patrols will have their hands full, and that will give us time to react.”

“You’re right,” Jon said. “I still want you to have two man sniper teams shadowing the Eutharan troops just in case she needs help.”

“That I didn’t think of,” Mark said. “I’ll get it done right away since It will also let us track their movements more precisely.”

“Sorry to interrupt Sir but the shuttle reports the Duke is on board, and they’re headed back,” an officer said.

“Good, it’s time we got some answers,” Jon said.Euthara

Jon greeted Andara when he stepped off the shuttle. As ordered, Jon’s guards were loosely formed around him and Nefeit. Oojoung led the way for Andara and stopped in front of Jon.

“Oojoung bring Duke as requested,” Oojoung said.

“Thanks Oojoung,” Jon said. “Did he give you any trouble on the trip here?”

“You make Oojoung laugh,” Oojoung said as he grinned. “Duke not big enough to be trouble for Oojoung. Oojoung explain to him, two ways to get here. Awake and calm or asleep and quiet. Duke person choose awake and calm.”

Jon let out a small laugh.

“He’s a despicable Buranis,” Andara said. “We heard you were consorting with them and even some Invaru.”

Oojoung turned and looked over his shoulder and said, “Sleep and quiet still option, you tired?”

Andara closed his mouth and said nothing, wise choice Jon thought.

“Princess Terri person still lost?” Oojoung said.