The Pirates of Sufiro (Book 1) (Old Star New Earth) (29 page)

Firebrandt shrugged. "Who knows? Still, I think it would be a mistake to assume there won't be any changes in Tejo after the defeat they've suffered."
Ellis considered his grandfather's words, and was forced to admit the statement probably held truth. He found himself wondering just how wishful the statement was.
Ellis and Rubin finished eating. The commander stood, lit a fresh cigar and nodded to Rubin. They went out to the launch to return to the ship. Fire, Roberts and Firebrandt followed them outside. The commander hugged his mother. The two officers stepped aboard the craft. The airlock doors closed with a hiss. With a thunderous roar, the launch's engines fired, propelling the craft back to its home in the stars. * * * *

Rocky Hill stormed into Clyde McClintlock's office the morning he heard the news of the Cluster's disappearance. McClintlock examined the monitors, confirming the ship's departure. On his holographic scanner, he could see the Rd'dyggian ship and the
Firebrandt
. There were no other vessels. The only freighters that were in the area left when the Cluster arrived. Clyde McClintlock could not explain the sense of emptiness that filled his soul at seeing the Cluster gone.

"About what?"
"About the New Granadans! The truce was only for the
duration of the crisis." Hill sat down heavily in the chair
opposite McClintlock's desk.
"You want to attack again?" asked McClintlock. "They
destroyed my entire supply train. Most of our armed forces
are dead. The only way I could go forward at this time would
be to institute forced conscription."
"I'll do it," said Hill.
McClintlock looked into Hill's stony eyes. For the first time
in his life, the colonel questioned the nature of his friendship
with Rocky Hill. The colonel wondered whether or not he was
on the right side in the war. "Mr. Hill, the only reason for
pursuing this war is your own greed." McClintlock moved to
his chair and sat at the desk, facing Hill. "I fought the New
Granadans because they were blowing up mines and creating
havoc. Yet, to tell you the truth, I think a whole lot of people
believe they were justified because we enslaved them." Hill clenched his teeth. "It's not just my greed. Every Tejan
has profited by New Granadan workers. Tejo would not have
been built nor grown as it did without money. Sam Stone may
have used migrant labor, but look where it's brought us. You
wouldn't be in this office if it weren't for the New Granadan
workers."
"Yes," said McClintlock, "look where it's brought us. Do the
ends ever justify the means? My father was governor of New
Granada."
"He left, because he saw how much greater the Tejan
dream could be."
McClintlock stood and moved away from the desk. "Mr.
Hill, I'm placing you under arrest before you destroy both
Tejo and New Granada."
Hill reached into his coat. McClintlock saw the motion and
tensed. As the governor pulled a hepler, the colonel leapt,
knocking Hill and the chair over. The hepler skittered across
the metal floor. The governor gasped for breath. The colonel
turned a somersault and made a grab for the fallen hepler.
Reaching blindly, Hill caught McClintlock by the ankle. The
colonel tried to shake him loose. He tried twisting and
screamed as he turned his ankle in the governor's surprisingly
strong grip.
Hill regained his breath, crouched and lunged for the
hepler. He missed slightly, causing the pistol to clatter further
into the corner. McClintlock gritted his teeth, forcing himself
to stand. He grabbed the governor by the collar and yanked
him to his feet. The colonel had never really realized just how
much shorter the governor was.
"The madness ends now," said McClintlock.
The governor tried to scramble out of the colonel's grip.
"Let go!" he shouted. Hill wrenched himself around and
McClintlock saw him start to bring his knee up. The colonel
released his hold. Hill lost balance and fell to the ground.
Again, he scrambled for the fallen pistol.
McClintlock drew his own pistol. "Stop!" he ordered. Hill grabbed the pistol and began to turn.
"Drop the pistol," ordered the colonel. Hill's eyes blazed
with fury. The colonel aimed and fired. The pulsed beam
sliced the governor's hand. Hill screamed as the pistol
dropped uncontrollably to the floor. McClintlock stormed over
to the governor and lifted the little man by the back of the
collar and the seat of the pants.
"Computer," called McClintlock. "Open channels to medical
and security."
"Communication channels open," reported the computer. "This is Colonel McClintlock, medics to my office
immediately. Security, send an armed escort."
Moments later, medics swarmed into the colonel's office
with an anti-gravity stretcher. They strapped him in, as
ordered by McClintlock. Moments later, the security guards
stormed in. McClintlock ordered the guards to place the
governor under arrest.
"What charge?" asked one of the security guards,
dumbfounded.
"Treason," said McClintlock. "He plans actions that would
cause the fall of Tejo." The colonel saw tears streaming down
the face of his childhood friend as the medics carried him to
the base infirmary. Once he was alone, the colonel sat at his
desk. He was shocked to realize that he had just started a
military coup. He realized he had to finish the job. McClintlock
could hardly believe his own words as he declared martial law
and ordered all Tejan officials arrested. McClintlock had his
computer call Caroline Chung of the Mao Corporation. Her expression was horror mixed with rage as she looked
at McClintlock's image on the holo. "How dare you impose martial law!" shouted the Tejan head of operations. "How is
this going to affect Mao Corporation interests?"
"For the better, I dare say." McClintlock nervously tapped
his fingers on the metal desk. "It's time for the madness to
end."
* * * *

Aboard the
Firebrandt
, Commander Ellis sat in the command chair staring at the holo of empty space. With the Cluster gone, he felt an odd emotion and one that was, for the most part, new to him, loneliness. He shook his head and tried to bring his thoughts back to the Erdonium problem.

Weiss sat back, abruptly, as if stunned. He turned to face Ellis. "New developments in Tejo, sir. You'll never believe it."
Ellis shifted, leaning forward. "Try me."
"Clyde McClintlock has just taken over the government. He's declared martial law in Tejo." Weiss shook his head in astonishment.
"You're right," said the commander, startled. "I don't believe it." Ellis opened his mouth to speak again, but Weiss cut him off.
"Sir, Colonel McClintlock is signaling. He would like to meet with you in his office under Mt. Mathews."
Ellis turned to Rubin. "How's the energy supply for the launch?"
"We have enough for two more round trips, sir." Rubin paused and looked into his commander's eyes. The B-Com saw his commander's resolution. "You're not considering going down into the heart of a military coup, are you?" Rubin rubbed his hands together, worried.
"Tell McClintlock I'll be there," said Ellis, standing. He straightened his jacket and turned to face Rubin. "Are you coming?"
Rubin leapt to his feet and followed his commander back to the launch bay. As they stepped into the bay, Rubin retrieved a hepler from the weapon's rack and handed one to his commander. Ellis nodded his approval. They stepped into the launch. The airlock hissed shut and the launch detached itself from the ship.
B-Com Rubin questioned his commander's decision to go down to some meeting called by a man who just betrayed his own government. For all Rubin knew, they could find themselves prisoners of that new government. As they approached the surface, Rubin was surprised to see a Rd'dyggian launch on the ground. He set the launch down next to the other.
When Ellis and Rubin stepped from the launch two armed guards in gray uniforms with faces like stone met them. Rubin felt a sinking feeling. His worst fears seemed to be coming to pass. They were led through the labyrinth of tunnels that led to the colonel's office. Colonel McClintlock and Captain Arepno waited in the office.
"I'm glad you were able to come," said McClintlock. The colonel's eyes were red, outlined by dark circles. Ellis thought he looked as bad as he himself looked only twenty-four hours before.
"The Gaean Alliance won't take kindly to a colonel declaring himself leader of one of their member worlds," said Ellis. Rubin and the commander seated themselves opposite McClintlock.
The colonel dismissed the armed guards with a wave of his hand then sighed. His shoulders were hunched. Rubin wondered when he had last slept. "No, they won't. Believe me, the last thing I ever wanted was to be leader of Tejo. It's a situation I hope to remedy in the very near future."
Arepno shifted slightly. His purple moustache wriggled. "You did not call us here to complain of your problems as a leader."
McClintlock shook his head languidly. "No, I called you here because I wanted to formally acknowledge my country's defeat. We tried to invade New Granada for reasons I now see to have been unsound."
Ellis snorted. "It's a little late to make realizations, isn't it?" The commander reached into his coat and pulled out a cigar.
"I'm sure you can appreciate my position. I was a military officer following orders." McClintlock began tapping his fingers nervously on the desk.
"I do not know that I understand," said Arepno. "It goes against Rd'dyggian military philosophy to follow orders without question."
McClintlock nodded. "Perhaps, I should have had a course in Rd'dyggian military philosophy." He looked from Arepno to Ellis to Rubin. "Gentlemen, I acknowledge defeat and I am prepared to make any military reparations required."
Arepno slammed his fist on McClintlock's desktop. "End slavery!" The words of the translator unit were barely discernable over the noise that issued from Arepno's own mouth.
McClintlock jumped back. His chair rolled into the wall behind him. "I plan to," he said, a tremor in his voice.
Ellis sat forward, putting his elbows on the colonel's desk. "If you end slavery, what's your plan for restoring Erdonium production?"
The colonel was visibly shaken by everyone closing in on him. He stood up and moved over to the wooden liquor cabinet. He retrieved a bottle and offered it to the people. Arepno complained that alcohol was poisonous to
Rd'dyggians, but wanted a drink. Ellis declined. McClintlock ordered a glass of water brought in for Arepno. The colonel poured himself a glass of bourbon, downed it and poured another as Arepno's water was brought in. The colonel returned to his seat.
Ellis tapped the desk impatiently. "Erdonium production."
"Yes," sighed McClintlock. "At this moment, the Mao Corporation is negotiating a buy-out of all Erdonium mines in Tejo."
"Is it really that simple? There won't be many workers once the slaves are released."
McClintlock felt the commander's eyes cutting into him like daggers. Arepno took a sip of water and eyed Ellis. "Commander, the slavery must end."
"I know," said Ellis, puffing furiously on the cigar. "But the Erdonium must move or the Confederation will fall."
"Caroline Chung says she has a way," stammered McClintlock. "The martial law remains in effect until the Erdonium production resumes." The colonel felt Arepno's gaze. "The solution will include an end to the slavery."
Ellis nodded, satisfied. "Then I believe I'll have a drink, colonel." The colonel poured bourbon for the commander. Three glasses came together saluting the new peace. * * * *

Ellison Firebrandt was pleasantly surprised to receive a teleholo call from his grandson. He was even more pleased to learn that the Mao Corporation now owned all the mines in Tejo. Many of the former slaves had decided to stay, to work for fair wages, but most were on their way home to their families.

Erdonium will be moving again." Ellis nodded, self-satisfied. "I suppose that means you'll be on your way back to
Titan?" The privateer captain looked down at his feet. "I'm
sorry to say, your mother isn't here. She's out, taking a turn
supervising the planting."
Ellis sat back, folding his arms. "Sorry to say, we'll have to
get going within the hour. I'm hoping to convince the
admiralty to let me take the
Firebrandt
on a special mission. I
want to try talking to the Cluster. I think there's some hope." "Godspeed," said Firebrandt. The old man terminated the
connection before the tears built up too much. He sat back
and sighed. He had truly grown fond of the boy. Arepno had
called earlier in the day. The captain was getting tired of good-byes. He stood and made his way through the house, feeling old. He walked through the front door and looked out at the swiftly flowing river and green fields. It was a beautiful
day. Roberts came up behind him.
"You look like you're feeling sorry for yourself," said
Roberts, surprisingly cheerful.
"I feel old." The words were deep and somber. They
stemmed from some deep hollow somewhere in the back of
the captain's skull.
"Old?" Roberts laughed. "My God, man! You're only eightythree!"
* * * *

Manuel Raton was thankful when he and Edmund Swan heard the news of the Cluster leaving Sufiro's orbit. When the Cluster left, so did most of Swan's paranoia. They were equally thankful to hear that McClintlock was not going to attack New Granada. Their people were tired and needed to go home. Nothing pleased Swan more than the day he dismissed the troops.

Raton's life as Sheriff of New Granada began to return to normal. He made a number of teleholo calls and checked to see that everything was peaceful. There were a number of celebrations going on around the continent. There would be a lot of drunks and surly people with hangovers the next day. The sheriff walked back into the living room and found Swan sitting on the old battered couch. "It'll be a busy day tomorrow, amigo," said Raton. "So, are you going to be a slacker, or can I deputize you?"

Swan grinned. "Well, I was a deputy sheriff before. I can be one again."
"Good!" said Raton. "I was hoping you'd get a real job. Now you can afford to get your own place." Swan glared at Raton. "Seriously, it's been good to have the company." Raton looked at a picture that hung on the wall. It was Espedie and Carmen Raton. His thoughts drifted off to the war. "Do you think the peace will last?"
"Only time will tell," said Swan.
"Sometimes, I think about the life my parents left behind on Earth. Earth has been at peace for hundreds of years. But the people had no freedom. My dad came here because he craved freedom. Still, that freedom dissolved into war. I wonder, was coming here any better?"
"Is freedom the price of peace?" Swan shook his head. "God, I hope not." Swan looked at the picture. He had heard the stories. He knew about Espedie and Carmen raising their children on the farm. He had heard the story of how violently they met their end. Swan thought about the violent, lingering deaths he had seen in Tucson as a deputy sheriff. "It may not be much of a consolation, but at least your parents died for a reason," said Swan.
Raton looked away from the picture. "For one brief shining childhood, this planet was beautiful." He thought about the farm and the early days. He thought of Suki Firebrandt. An unconscious, wry grin caught his mouth.
"This planet is still beautiful." Swan stepped up and walked to the window. "Ellison Firebrandt wants to keep it that way."
"Ellison Firebrandt won't be here forever," said Raton, doubtfully.
"Are you so sure of that?" Swan put his hands on the windowsill. "Even if he does die, and I'm not so certain of that, his dream will live on with us."
* * * *