Last Stand on Talos Seven Read online

  The dark-haired woman glared at her companion before looking back at Anna. The wizard scout smiled and touched the right sleeve of her greasy jumpsuit with her left hand. “Like I said, I’ve been undercover. My wizard scout gear is on my ship. As for being mystical, I’m just as human and prone to error as you.”

  Unsure if she was being insulted, Anna drummed the fingers of her right hand on the table. “Are you saying we made an error?”

  The large blonde-woman waved a hand at the walls of the room. “Oh, I don’t know, you tell us. Did you intend to get locked up in jail?”

  Feeling her face growing warm, Anna opened her mouth to speak but the wizard scout beat her to the punch.

  “Don’t let this old war dog get your pactar,” said Trinity. “An hour ago I was sitting in what passes for a high-security cell in this jail. Lieutenant Commander Stevens got me out. We’re thinking about doing the same for you. That is, if you’re interested.”

  Connor leaned forward in his chair. “Of course we’re—”

  Kicking sideways with the heel of her foot, Anna caught the boy in the shin.

  “Ow!” said Connor, reaching down to rub his leg. “What was that for?”

  Ignoring him, Anna concentrated on the wizard scout. “Why would you help us? We don’t even know you.”

  Trinity shrugged her shoulders. “Does it matter? You came into one of the seediest bars I’ve ever seen asking for help. Did you by any chance know anyone in there?”

  “Uh, no,” Anna admitted. “But that’s not the—”

  “You mentioned needing help,” said Trinity. “What help were you seeking? You also offered to pay a hundred thousand credits. That’s an awful lot of credits for two teenagers to scrap together. Speaking of which, are you here alone? Where are your parents?”

  As Anna gauged how much to tell the wizard scout and the Empire officer, Connor opened his mouth.

  Before Anna got a chance to give the red-headed boy another kick to the shin, he said, “Our parents died three years ago. Anna got the credits honestly. They’re hers.”

  Anna wasn’t sure about the honestly part. After all, she’d filched the titanium ore while mining. She supposed in theory it was free to anyone who found it, but she had a feeling a good prosecuting attorney would shoot holes in that line of defense.

  Trinity grinned. “I didn’t say the credits weren’t earned honestly. Still, that’s an awful lot of credits for a couple of teenagers to be bragging about having. Especially if you’re all alone.”

  “He wasn’t bragging,” Anna said, “and we’re not all alone. Our friend Ryan and the rest of the Donovan’s crew are at the spaceport waiting for us.”

  Anna noticed Trinity raise her eyebrows and glance at the Empire officer.

  Commander Stevens shrugged. “I noticed an old ragtag recon ship when I teleported into the spaceport.” She glanced at Anna and gave a wink. “If the two of you came in that old tub, you’ve got guts. I’ve seen better wrecks in the junkyards on the moons of Palos Verde.”

  Heat came to Anna’s face. She’d never liked being made fun of. “It got us here, and it’ll get us back to Talos.”

  Trinity frowned. “Talos? That’s on the other side of the neutral zone, isn’t it? I seem to remember it’s close to the pirate strongholds in the Baloria system.”

  Nodding her head, Anna forced her voice to remain steady. “That’s right. It’s very close. And that’s our problem.”

  Trinity nodded her head as if understanding. “Don’t tell me, let me guess. The Balorians are strong-arming you, and you’ve come here to hire some mercs to save your people’s asses.”

  “Uh, yeah,” said Connor. “Something like that.”

  The blonde-headed Empire officer laughed. “The Empire’s been battling the Balorian pirates off and on for the last hundred years. Our resources haven’t been enough to stomp them out. What do you think you’re going to do with only a hundred thousand credits?”

  Once again heat came to Anna’s face. “We’re not trying to stomp them out. We’re just trying to protect our town. Besides, it’s not the entire Balorian pirates causing us problems. I think they’re just some freelancers in a couple of outdated warships using the Balorian pirates for cover. We just need a few soldiers to help us—”

  “What you need,” said Lieutenant Commander Stevens, “is a company of mercs with a platoon of armor to back them up. Not to mention you’d need space cover. Without that, any pirate ships would nuke your forces out of existence.” She looked Anna in the eyes. “Believe me, girl, I’ve been a soldier most of my life. A hundred thousand credits ain’t going to cut it. You’d need at least a half a billion to do the job.”

  “A half a... that’s impossible,” said Connor. “It’s taken Anna ten years to get what she has. I can’t believe it would cost so much.”

  “Believe what you want, but she’s right,” said Trinity. “You’d also need either an R2 or higher-level force field to protect your town. If you can’t get a force field, you’d need a couple of destroyers to provide you with overhead cover. Otherwise it’s like the lieutenant commander said, those pirates would just blow you out of existence. And believe me, both R2 force fields and destroyers are expensive options.”

  Her face growing even hotter, Anna stood to leave. “Someone will help us. Come on, Connor. Let’s go. I’d rather rot in jail than be made fun of.”

  Anna turned to leave, but she was faced with a locked door barring her way. She didn’t embarrass herself by trying to open the door. Thankfully, neither the wizard scout nor the Empire officer made a snide remark.

  After a couple of seconds, Trinity said, “Don’t get your pactar fur up. First off, we weren’t making fun of you.” When Anna turned to glare at her, Trinity added, “Okay, maybe a little, but we didn’t say we wouldn’t help. Tell me—”

  “Now hold on,” said the big blonde woman. “We’re Empire soldiers, not mercs. We don’t have time to go gallivanting off to every backwater planet in the galaxy righting wrongs.”

  “You just told me the Imperial High Command insisted I take six months of leave,” said Trinity.

  “Yeah, to some R&R planet. They didn’t mean for you to go off fighting someone else’s war. You’re a valuable asset. I’m pretty sure they want you back in one piece when your six months is over.”

  Trinity smiled. “Then I guess it’s a good thing you’ll be going with me to keep me out of trouble.”

  The blonde-headed woman’s eyes widened. “Now wait a darn minute. I’m not going, and neither are you. I’m going to escort you to some place nice and peaceful if I have to drag you by—”

  “Jennifer says it’s important,” said Trinity.

  “Who?” Anna asked before anyone else got the chance to speak.

  Turning to Anna, Trinity said, “Jennifer. She’s my battle computer.”

  Anna glanced at Connor. He looked as confused as her. She turned back to the wizard scout. “What’s a battle computer got to do with it?”

  “I’d also kinda like to hear why,” said Lieutenant Commander Stevens. “What’s up, Trinity? You know more than you’re saying, don’t you?”

  Trinity shook her head, nixing the idea. “Not really. Jennifer put the idea of talking to these two kids in my head.”

  “We’re not kids,” said Connor, turning a little red.

  “Fine,” said Trinity. “These two young people. Anyway, the point is that Jennifer said something about needing to help them. She says it is part of some algorithm.”

  “What algorithm is that?” asked the blonde woman.

  Trinity shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve got no idea, and I don’t think Jennifer has that information either. You know computers. They’re always dealing in one kind of algorithm or another. The end result is that she calculates it’s important for us to help the children. I think it may have something to do with my original mission here.”

  Anna started to speak, but the blonde woman held up a hand to cut her off. �
�I think that’s something best not spoken about in front of the ki...err, young people.”

  Trinity smiled. “Suit yourself. The end result is that I’m going with them. I think you should come too. I could use your help.”

  Anna could hardly believe her luck. “You’ll go with us? How much of the hundred thousand credits will you want? We still need to get some supplies.”

  Standing up, Trinity said, “Believe me. You couldn’t afford us. As for supplies, I’ve got just the man to help you out. He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s going to help us get what we need.”

  Chapter 6 – Supply Sergeant

  _______________________________________

  Three people sat around the stainless-steel dining table in the Defiant’s mess area. One was a thin old man with long scraggly white hair. He was wearing a set of gray, oil-stained dungarees. The other two were Lieutenant Commander Stevens and Trinity.

  Trinity thought about how they’d bailed Connor and Anna out of jail, and then made their way to the asteroid’s spaceport to link up with Sergeant Ron and the Defiant. Once they’d arrived on board, the recon ship’s mechanic, Charlie, had taken the two teens in tow to show them to their quarters. While he was doing that, Sergeant Ron had led Lieutenant Commander Stevens and her to the mess area on the ship’s third level for an impromptu meeting.

  Trinity let him know right off the bat what they needed. She doubted the Defiant’s fiesty old captain would take her request for supplies well. She was right.

  “Not no, but hell no,” said Sergeant Ron. He pounded the metal top of the dining table. “You can forget it. I ain’t no supply sergeant, and even if’n I was, I wouldn’t be giving away the stuff for free. A hundred thousand credits wouldn’t equip an infantry squad with decent equipment much less an entire company.” He glared at Trinity. “You know that as well as me. Not to mention you’re going to need some heavy armor to have any kind of chance against those pirates. I’ve fought their kind before. The Balorian’s infantry battalions come with a unit of UHAAVs attached. I should also point out that you’re going to need some fools to drive your cats, assuming you can get some.” He stared at Trinity and snorted. “Where are you planning on finding those idiots, if you don’t mind my asking?”

  Trinity wasn’t intimidated by the outburst of the Defiant’s captain. Truth is, she thought, I’d be worried if Sergeant Ron didn’t rant a little.

  “Then I guess you’re not worried, are you?” said Jennifer in the shared space of Trinity’s mind. “Also, I calculate he is making some very valid points? Besides the lieutenant commander and you, where are you planning on finding some more fools?”

  Trinity was tempted to remove the battle helmet that was attached to the left side of her utility belt and hit it on the side of the table. She resisted the urge. To be honest, after two months as a pretend miner, it felt good wearing her battle suit again and having her battle computer back with her. Not that she was going to admit that to Jennifer. “Don’t get smart mouthed with me, Jen. I’ve enjoyed not having you around to pester me these last two months.”

  “You think I pester you?” asked Jennifer, sounding a little hurt. “I will admit I have been in constant communication with you since you went to work for the Osterian Mining Company, but I calculated you needed my advice to keep you out of trouble. The fact we were separated by a quarter of a light year meant I could not help you physically. Even so, I did my best to keep you provided with any necessary information you might need.”

  Trinity smiled. Sometimes her battle computer was so sensitive, it was almost like dealing with a person instead of a computer. “All right, I admit it. Sometimes it is kinda nice having you close by. Besides, I like knowing that if things go to hell in a handbasket when I follow your advice that you’ll share the same danger as me.”

  “That does not compute. I am encased in a hardened brerellium-steel chip inside your battle helmet. I can survive lots of things you cannot. Not that I’d want too. Few battle computers recover after the death of their wizard scout.”

  Trinity smiled. “I’d miss you too, Jennifer.”

  “Do I amuse you?” asked Sergeant Ron.

  The question drew Trinity back into the world of reality. She glanced over at Lieutenant Commander Stevens who was sitting at the end of the table. The big blonde was doing her best not to laugh, but after her face turned red, a big guffaw came out. Trinity glared at the special operations officer before turning back to the Defiant’s captain.

  “Now Sergeant Ron, you know I’d never laugh at you. I was talking to Jennifer. So what were you saying?”

  “I was saying that the commandant wants Charlie and me back at the Academy pronto. He’s got some things for us to do. Much as I like Janet and you, the commandant is my boss, uh... so to speak.”

  Trinity frowned. “Janet? Who’s Janet?”

  Lieutenant Commander Stevens cleared her throat. “He’s talking about me. My first name’s Janet.”

  “Really?” Trinity said. She grinned. “And here all this time I thought your first name was your rank.”

  The big blonde wasn’t amused. “No. It’s Janet.” She pointed a finger at Sergeant Ron. “As for you, one of these days I’m liable to let slip your middle name. Then we’ll see how funny you think letting private things slip out are.”

  The smile that had crept over Sergeant Ron’s face disappeared. “Now there’s no need to get vindictive. If’n you and Trinity are going to be working together for the next six months, it’s going to get mighty long winded if’n she has to keep calling you lieutenant commander.”

  “So...Janet,” Trinity said in an attempt to get the conversation back on track. “I gather you’ve decided to come with me after all.”

  With a final glare at Sergeant Ron, the special operations officer looked over at Trinity. “Yeah, I got it approved by the high command while you were bailing out the kids. I think that the higher-ups were just glad to get you out of their hair for a while even if it’s costing them their best special operations officer.” She winked. “Of course the high command assumes we’ll be space hopping from one R&R planet to another, but that’s their problem.”

  Grinning, Sergeant Ron said, “It’s your problem too if the two of you go and get yourself killed on some backwater planet for no reason whatsoever. The paperwork alone would make you wish you hadn’t.” He dropped his grin. “Listen, Trinity. One thing I’ve learned during my life is that you’ve got to choose your battles. Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not heartless. I feel sorry for those two kids and the others on Talos, but there are probably a thousand planets and asteroids in the galaxy with just as much or not more troubles. You can’t save them all.”

  “He is right,” said Jennifer over the external speakers of the battle helmet. “I calculate there are nine hundred and seventy-eight planets and—”

  Trinity slapped the metal table with the palm of her hand. “Butt out Jennifer.” She pushed her bench seat back and stood up stiff-backed, staring down at the Defiant’s captain. “I know I can’t help them all. I’m not some crusader trying to save the galaxy, but I think I can help these two kids. That’s what I’m going to do. Now you can either help me or not. Either way, I’m going to get to Talos somehow and do what I—”

  “Ease off, Trinity,” said Sergeant Ron. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t help you.” He squinted his eyes and drummed the table with the fingers of his right hand. “Well, okay, maybe I did say that, but what’s the use of being the captain of this tub of bolts if’n I can’t change my mind once in a while?”

  Trinity relaxed. “So you’ll help us?”

  Sergeant Ron stood. “Didn’t I just say as much?”

  Trinity knew the old man hadn’t, but she wasn’t going to belabor the point.

  The Defiant’s captain glanced over at Janet. The big blonde had also risen from her seat. “I don’t suppose we can get any of your special operations boys and girls to help, can we?”

  The lieutenant commander
shook her head. “No way. This is strictly off the books. I might be able to sweet talk a little intel out of some people who owe me favors, but we’re definitely on our own when it comes to getting equipment and personnel.”

  “That’s what I thought,” said Sergeant Ron before turning back to Trinity. “I’ll tell you what. Have those kids give me those processed titanium blocks, and I’ll see what equipment I can buy with them. But don’t be expecting no heavy armor. I’m talking some small arms and miscellaneous gear at best.”

  Trinity glanced over at Janet.

  The special operations officer shrugged. “You may as well give him the bad news. He’s going to find out anyway.”

  Frowning, Sergeant Ron glanced from Janet to Trinity and back again. “What bad news is that? In my opinion, everything the two of you’ve said up to this point has been bad news.”

  Trinity smiled. “Actually, we’re going to need those hundred thousand credits to retrofit the Donovan. I figured you wouldn’t be able to stick around for the whole six months, so we’re going to need a ship. The Donovan’s only got a single hyper-jump left in her engine before it needs to be refurbished. That will barely get us back to Talos, much less take us around to get equipment and personnel.”

  Shaking his head, the Defiant’s captain snorted. “It just keeps getting better and better, doesn’t it? Well, have those kids give me the processed titanium. I know a few people on this asteroid. I’ll do a little pactar trading and see what we can do for that old recon ship. In the meantime, the two of you had better be figuring out how you’re going to get some experienced cat pilots to help you out. UHHAV pilots don’t grow on trees in case you haven’t noticed.”

  “Believe me,” Trinity said. “I know. You just worry about getting the Donovan fixed up and acquiring us some equipment. Commander...uh, Janet and I will worry about getting some more fools to help us.”

  Sergeant Ron started for the half-flight of stairs leading up to the cockpit. “You do that.” He stopped and spun around in midstride. “By the way, don’t be including Charlie or me as two of those fools you’re talking about. I’ll help get that beat-up piece of junk you call a starship working enough to suit your purposes. I’ll even help you get some small arms and other gear. After that I’m headed back to Velos. My wife would beat me from one side of the galaxy to the other if’n she thought I was off gallivanting with the two of you instead of relaxing at home with her.”