Koban (47 page)

“Humanity is the eighteenth race they’ve found, in a series of
conquests of other civilizations that they have wiped out. They intend to rule the
entire Galaxy as a super race.”

Greeves shook his head in amazement. “Holy shit! I had thought
it was just for their sick amusement, or something. I’ve never had more than a few
words with any of their translators,” he admitted.

He explained why. “Doushan learned the hard way that people here
don’t like you receiving what they see as preferential treatment from the enemy,
not without risking your life to earn it. Like earning the immunity you get from
a combat kill. Doushan and a few others got immunity just by teaching them Standard
and human history, making them very unpopular.”

“I wasn’t fond of Mavray as a person, and disliked his willingness
to describe our worlds and people. Nevertheless, I respected his actions to try
to save as many people as he could, to find a way to reduce the slaughters during
capture. It was the diplomat’s training in him, to find a way that didn’t involve
violence and killing.

“When I heard you say he had succeeded in your case, I felt pissed
again at what some of those cowards down there did to him.”

“What was that?” Maggi wanted to know.

“Someone ‘accidentally’ locked him outside the north dome entrance
after dark, all eight doors that face the Jungle side of the compound. He never
made it to another garage entrance. His drained body was found where the skeeters
left him. Cowardly bastards!” he repeated.

“I found out who had the balls to do something that might piss
off the Krall. Two of them had immunity it turned out, but some participants without
immunity were challenged by a Krall for some reason. They don’t normally care a
damn what we do to each other, but Doushan was valuable to them.

“They were honor bound to respect their own Krall granted immunity,
but it was no protection from me. We all have the right to challenge any Krall or
any human. Two of the pricks that left me and my men to die, that allowed us to
win their grants of immunity were two of those that shoved Doushan out the door.”

“You said they didn’t enjoy immunity for long. You killed them?”
Mirikami asked.

“Not the way they killed Doushan, sneaky and in the dead of night.
I faced them and called them out in front of everyone. We met in the old testing
arena upstairs, which the Krall use now for exercise. They used to fight humans
there, but that proved a waste of their time. I gave those men the opportunity to
kill me if they could, their choice of weapons. Both knew I was a dead shot, so
they picked machetes and knives. Another mistake they won’t repeat.”

“The Krall had no objection, I take it?” Dillon asked.

“Hell, they wanted to award me marks for the kills. I was repelled
by the offer and they were bemused at my refusal. But it has made me basically immune
in two ways, from the Krall and from my fellow captives.”

“Couldn’t someone just jump you and shove you out a door too?”
questioned Maggi.

“You have no doubt noticed Good Lady that I walk around very
well armed. I have had little to do with most people here for the last year, since
the duels. I earned this ‘luxurious’ secure compartment because I have the highest
status among the humans. If some vengeful backstabber caught me asleep I suspect
Colonel ‘Grease’ might get greased.”

He shrugged. “This dome has a large amount of living space, so
the main thing this room offered was a locking door and proximity to our food lockers.

“But frankly, I’m looking for someone to talk to, and you might
be the folks I can do that with. I’m not going to be offended if you prefer to keep
your distance. There are a lot of you, but three times as many of them if they worry
you. However, I can offer you some tips on survival here, and you may want to hear
those.”

Looking at his companions, Mirikami saw the subtle hints from
their body language and expressions that he had learned to read when they were under
Krall scrutiny. He felt certain of their opinion, and made a decision.

“Colonel, I’d prefer you call me Tet, short for Tetsuo, rather
than Captain Mirikami. The latter is far too formal for what I hope will become
a working relationship, and hopefully a friendship over time.” He offered his hand
one more time.

“Tet, I believe I will like having someone to talk to again.
Please call me Thad.” He accepted his handshake again.

“Thad, time is short right now, but let me give you a quick outline
of what we know of Krall intentions, before I have to get back to my ship, assuming
I get to keep it in one piece at all.”

“OK, shoot.”

“We learned directly from the Krall that they have been undecided
whether to simply kill off humanity, make slaves of a few of us and kill the rest,
or if testing here proves we can actually fight them, they’ll employ a slow attack
strategy to weed out their weakest warriors. We don’t like any of these options,
but proving we can fight gives our worlds time to try and find some better option.”

“I’d chose the fight option, which I suspect you figured out
just now,” he grinned.

“We have some plans concerning how those of us from our ship
will organize and fight the Krall here. They require some things to fall in place,
the most important of which ought to happen before this day is done, keeping our
ship intact as a base of operations. We are not at liberty to discuss what we have
planned yet, or how we will do this, because it carries a risk beyond just those
involved.”

Mirikami looked to his friends, “Maggi and Dillon can outline
some of our ideas to try to outsmart the Krall warriors, but I need to return to
the ship. I have no doubt you can improve on those ideas. I’m a Spacer, and we have
no professional military in our entire complement, so your advice should prove invaluable.”

“I’ll be glad to help you. Except I have to warn you that anyone
showing leadership here shortens their life expectancy. I wasn’t blowing smoke about
that. There are some people here who will be sympathetic and wish you well, but
few will follow you.”

Mirikami was about to say something, but Jake’s voice sounded
in his ear. From their listening attitudes, he was speaking to Maggi and Dillon
as well.

“A Krall shuttle from the south west has been detected. It is
on a course to arrive at this location in thirteen minutes forty seconds, unless
it changes course or speed. It …” he cut off as Mirikami spoke.

“Maggi, you may want to brief Thad more on some of our ideas
and ‘toys’, but I need to get to the ship right now and I may need your help Dillon.
I’m wearing out.”

They excused themselves, and their host opened the door for them
to leave.

After they were gone, Thad said, “So my Good Lady, what can we
talk about? Besides those neat implants, which the three of you have. You all got
an important call from somebody.” He grinned.

“You will bear some watching Gentle Sir,” she grinned back. “The
Krall didn’t catch on after a whole week of watching us. Only please call me Maggi,
Thad. I suspect we will be learning a lot from each other and working together,
so we may as well be friends.”

With an impish grin, she asked, “I assume you know some unarmed
combat techniques?”

“Sure, but it has limited use around here. You can’t kick a Krall’s
butt with what I know.”

“Oh, I’m just concerned about Dillon,” she said sweetly. “He’s
a brilliant scientist, and keeps fit, but he doesn’t know anything about self-defense.
I’d consider it a great favor if you would offer to teach him a few things. Like
throws, and such. He just might find himself up against one of your vindictive fellow
captives, and the dear boy is like a son to me.”

“Certainly, as soon as you get settled in we can start. All of
you will need exercise to build the muscles Koban requires. The Krall allow new
arrivals some time for that but they are impatient.”

“Good. Now I don’t want you to be too easy on Dillon, a few bruises
are a small price to pay for learning a skill. He likes to please me, so be sure
to tell him I said to do this for me, won’t you?”

Her grandmotherly smile was at odds with the twinkle in her eyes.
Yes indeed, she thought this would definitely be more fun than a verbal harpoon
for the elevator incident.

As Mirikami stepped out of the stomach-wrenching elevator, he
asked for an update from Noreen. He and Dillon started a jog around the edge of
the large hall to the door they had entered through, drawing some curious looks.

Noreen told them “The last of our evacuees are already under
the dome overhang, and the escorts are heading back with the guns. The final drops
should happen in the next five or six minutes, at least five minutes before that
inbound shuttle gets here.”

Puffing with effort, Mirikami said, “Dillon and I probably can’t
make it back before the drops. We were able to sit briefly and cool our heels for
a bit, but I for one can’t manage better than a trot. Dillon is being polite and
staying back with me.”

Feeling winded, he glanced over at the big man, jogging so easily
at his side. “He’s positively irritatingly fit.”

Also in the Link, Dillon had a rebuttal, “Don’t let him fool
you Noreen he’s saving himself to drag away those last engine parts himself.”

“Hey, one of the haulers just started over with more food, drinks,
and bedding. If he drops the pallet and lets someone there unload, he can drive
you back.”

“Good,” was all Mirikami could manage.

When they reached the big maintenance room, Mirikami was so winded
he could barely speak. One of the large doors was open, and the hauler was backing
away from a pallet it had set on the floor.

There were seven people covering the dangerous open door with
guns ready. The two men startled them as they brusquely shoved past. Mirikami muttered
a winded excuse.

Chack waved them on, obviously expecting them.

As Mirikami went to stand on the step-up, Chack opened the cage
door making room for him to sit on the floor of the cab and rest his feet on the
step. Dillon, breathing heavier but not winded, stepped on the fork and held on
to the rear brace.

Chack had his faceplate open, “Hold tight gentlemen, I’ll goose
this baby and show you what it can really do.” He swung the machine around and it
trundled away at a pitiful fifteen miles per hour.

“Hey Chack,” called Dillon, “try to avoid blowing my butt off,
OK?”

“You could always walk, Commander Fireball,” he answered
back.

Noreen was standing at the top of the ramp, having collected
four of the guns from the volunteer escorts in the black bag. The eight men and
women were headed back to the dome for their final trip, holding four of the guns
for their own protection. The hauler was passing them at the midpoint.

“Noreen,” sounded Willfem in her ear, “are we all clear for the
last drop?”

“Hold it a minute Nan, the Captain and Doctor Martin are almost
back, and the last escorts are halfway to the dome. The ramp should shield them
all, but I’d rather not take a chance.”

Chack, noting his Captain’s sweat and heavy breathing, simply
drove up the ramp when he reached the ship, and stopped next to Noreen.

“Welcome back aboard Sir.”  Mirikami merely nodded and made a
halfhearted salute.

She shouted to the eight people halfway to the dome. “Dropping
the last engine parts, watch out for pieces.” Then, “Link to Willfem,” and barely
pausing, “Cut ‘em free Nan, we’re all clear.”

After barely thirty seconds wait, the screech and snapping of
metal could be heard and felt as the last three sections of the main engines fell
the length of the tubes where they had been mounted. The thuds on the chipped tarmac
weren’t as heavy this time because the remaining components were less massive than
earlier pieces.

His breathing nowhere close to regular yet, Mirikami felt compelled
to congratulate the three crews responsible. He requested a ship wide broadcast
through Jake.

“Brave Ladies and Men, I sincerely thank and congratulate you
on an extremely tough job very well done. You beat the optimistic schedule we set
ourselves. If we are able to save this ship, it will be because of your work and
great sacrifice. Mirikami Out.”

Every one of the three teams thought of the terrible sacrifice
Bolinda Carter had made for this effort. Her ravaged half-eaten body was still where
she had died, with the dead wolfbats nearby.

“The shuttle on its way here is probably Parkoda’s, but we don’t
know that. We should learn shortly if our plan to use the ship as a base of operations
has worked, or not.”

“Sir,” Jake’s voice spoke, “There are Krall warriors leaving
the Clanship but they are not moving towards this ship. The arriving shuttle is
apparently landing near the Clanship.”

“I’m not sure I like that,” said a still puffing Mirikami, but
spoken softly.

“Why’s that Captain?” Chack, sitting right next to him, was the
only one to hear.

“Broadcast to entire ship,” he said, instead of answering Chack
directly. “People, I want all of you to get down to the cargo hold immediately.
The shuttle landed by the Clanship rather than next to us, leaving it in the clear
if they decide to fire on us. We may need to get off in a hurry.”

“Damn, do they even know anyone is still here?” It was Chief
Haveram’s voice.

Noreen said, “The Clanship must have seen the engine drop we
just did, and the Hauler’s return. They know some of us are aboard.”

“Doesn’t mean they care,” said Dillon. “Perhaps we should send
someone over to explain that we have completed Telour’s orders.”

“If Parkoda’s in charge,” said Mirikami, “that wouldn’t help
matters. However, perhaps I can play them off against each other. We have to try
something, so I’ll go over there.”