Lyon's Pride (6 page)

“Sorry, Captain,” the Rowan said with a fleeting smile. The pain went as quickly as it had begun. “It was the quickest way for me.”

“We apologize for taking so long getting here,” Afra went on. “We stopped at appropriate intervals to listen.”

“Ohhh,” and Osullivan breathed one single despairing note of denial.

“My grandson
is
alive,” the Rowan added, her expression severe. Afra nodded a brief reinforcement of her statement. “We would know if he was not, if that affords you any consolation.”

“It does.”

“We must go aboard the
KTTS.
Do you have any pictures of its bridge configuration?” Afra asked.

“Here,” Doplas said, pointing to his screen.

“That's enough,” the Rowan said and turned toward the engineering position. “You are Commander Metrios? I thought so. We will need a touch of power.”

“All you want,” Metrios said, throwing his hands up in exaggerated relief at being able to do something. Their air of competence and determination revived him from the despair which had engulfed him since Rojer's disappearance became known.

The generators surged briefly and the group was gone. Someone breathed a “Wow!” of awe.

“The Rowan?” Yngocelen asked in a low voice.

Osullivan nodded.

“I thought she never left Callisto.”

“Not often, but she's the clout needed,” Osullivan said, encouraged in spite of his pessimistic fears.

“Sir?” Ensign Menburia's voice sounded almost apologetic. “They brought the supplies, too.”

“That boy
must
be found, safe and unharmed!” Osullivan said, bringing both fists down hard on the armrests.
He had personal as well as professional reasons, and a few which would have repercussions that he didn't want to think about, even clear-headed.

“Aye, aye, sir!”

*   *   *

The Rowan had been angry before with the stupidity of people, or things, or avoidable accidents, but she had never been so frighteningly angry before. Even as Jeff had been receiving information from the
Genesee
, he had Gollee Gren contacting the Mrdini High Council representative stationed on Earth. Mrtgrts was not only a grey, Captain Prtglm's color, but it was the High Councillor's chief liaison official and had served two decades as manager of the 'Dini colony world, Sef. It immediately volunteered to accompany whomever the Earth Prime sent to investigate.

The Rowan had informed Earth Prime that none other than herself would be the FT&T representative, having forcibly overruled her daughter, who felt she had the right to discover what had happened to her own son.
Aurigae may not be without its Prime, Damia, and that's that.
But the Rowan had then relented sufficiently to ask Afra to accompany her.
You can manage without Afra and he is the boy's father. But Aurigae can't manage without you
.

Then how is it that Callisto can do without
its
Prime?
Damia had demanded caustically.
He's my son!

And my grandson and I carry more clout. Callisto's in occlusion or we'd've had to send Jeran
.

I'd rather you went
, Damia had said, subsiding.

We
will
find Rojer, dear girl. We will. You
know
he's alive
.

Yes, I know he's alive….
and Damia's tone had dwindled off while leaving her mother with the full impact of her shock and despair.

Now 'port your husband and your 'Dinis. We'll need them almost as much as we'll need me
.

The Rowan had almost balked at waiting for the cluster of supply pods destined for Squadron B but the handlers at Callisto had the pods attached with such alacrity that she didn't have time enough to voice an objection.

I'd hazard that the supplies are needed for the morale value if nothing else
, Jeff said soothingly.
Rojer seems to have been very well liked and Captain Osullivan is genuinely and deeply upset by his disappearance
.

And so he should be. A good lad. Not too cocky, either
.

The Rowan did not, however, wait until the encircling pods were removed by the
Genesee
cargo handlers but 'ported herself and her companions directly to the bridge. She heard Captain Osullivan's apologies and a reiteration of the circumstances. Then she and Afra 'ported with their 'Dinis to the
KTTS
, where they were met by the next in command, another grey 'Dini of good size but one who instantly made deep obeisance to Mrtgrts.

“
THE PRESENCE OF PRTGLM IS REQUIRED
,” Mrtgrts said, its tone coming from deep inside its strong large body.

The poll eye of every 'Dini on the bridge was turned respectfully in its direction.

“
I, PRIME OF CALLISTO, REQUIRE THE PRESENCE OF PRTGLM
NOW
!” the Rowan said, drawing herself up to her full height. Despite being dwarfed by almost all the 'Dini bridge staff, she was so imperious in manner that she received equal respect and attention.

“
I, FR, SIRE OF RJR LN, REQUIRE THE PRESENCE OF PRTGLM
,” Afra said, and he towered above everyone. Though he knew the 'Dini were not empathic, he allowed himself the luxury of radiating the anger and indignation that consumed him despite all his attempts to suppress such unmethody emotions.

Trp and Flk, the 'Dinis who had lived with Damia and Afra for the past eighteen years, suddenly began to swell.

“
WE KNOW, WE GO
,” said Trp, and with no further explanation, it and Flk ran, as nearly as their body shapes allowed them, to a bridge exit and disappeared. That precipitous departure caused some of the lower crew members to moan and prostrate themselves.

Mrtgrts took charge, flicking one set of digits in a warning to the two Humans. The Rowan bridled, incensed to be ignored.

Don't, Rowan. Let Mrtgrts handle this. I've never seen such behavior from 'Dinis before and we must be patient
.

Patient? When we don't know…

We know that Rojer lives. If we can find out what caused him to run like that…

A Gwyn-Raven doesn't
run, the Rowan began, her mental tone a vivid purple-red, she was so incensed.

“There has been a command failure,” Mrtgrts told them suddenly and now it, too, made a humble inclination of its upper body to the Talents.

“A what?”

“Prtglm has attempted unilateral action that would not be approved by Admiral Mktrn or Gktmglnt.” Mrtgrts bowed again, its color paling to exhibit a degree of embarrassment that Afra had seen only in very young 'Dini miscreants.

“What sort of action?” the Rowan demanded imperiously.

“The Talent offspring of Afra Lyon became so deft at sending unseen probes that Prtglm saw the opportunity to destroy the function of this world forever.”

Damn!
The word exploded with ferocity in the Rowan's livid mind and included the actions which she desired to inflict on Prtglm's person.

“How dared it!” Afra's fury matched the Rowan's and Mrtgrts swayed back from them as if it felt the impact as a personal blow. “That was not the assignment my son accepted and that I, as his parent, approved, Mrtgrts. I do not know what punishment can be meted out to a personage of Prtglm's rank and color but this is an unacceptable perversion of FT&T services and a gross affront to the pacific nature of FT&T personnel.”

“All FT&T services will be withdrawn from…” the Rowan began, suddenly white and trembling with reaction.

Flk and Trp returned, their pelts almost colorless.

“
THERE ARE MANY PUNITIVE MISSILES IN THE CARGO BAY. GRL AND KTG DIED ON THE LINE
.”

The Rowan's face mirrored the horror both she and Afra felt.

No wonder Rojer disappeared
, she said in the saddest tone Afra had ever heard from her in all their long association. She swayed and he stepped close to support her.

“
ESCORT ME
,” Mrtgrts told the bridge officer who had met them. Its whole body shuddering, it turned to another of the exits from the bridge facility, Flk and Trp falling in behind it.

The Rowan made a move to follow but Afra restrained her and eased her onto the nearest stool before her knees buckled. Keeping one hand lightly under her arm to comfort her, Afra blanked out the flood of emotions she continued to broadcast. Far better for all if she dispersed as much of her feelings as possible where it could not be felt or heard before Mrtgrts returned.

Why would Rojer's 'Dinis be killed, Afra? Why? They were young, blameless
.

Rojer would have refused outright to 'port weapons of any kind
, Afra said wearily, for he now had a sense of what had probably taken place.
He oughtn't really to have
sent probes either, but certainly the knowledge that has been amassed is more than worth that slight deviation from his orders. But…
Afra shook his head.

We started these operations to clear the stars of Hive incursions, didn't we?
the Rowan began, and Afra was relieved by the healthier indignation of her mind.

It was also mutually decided by the Alliance not to promulgate any attack against an entrenched Hiver position because we bloody well couldn't succeed
.

The least that should be done is blow up those ships so this group will be planetbound for a long time to come
, and her eyes flashed with determination to wrest that much of a concession from those who preferred non-aggression.
We'll never be able to communicate with that species. I certainly don't want to have to meet any mind of theirs again, single or many!

Afra certainly understood her hostility and resentment of the species but he had been raised on a methody planet which did not approve of violence of any kind, even in self-defense. “There are always alternatives: keep talking” had been the guiding rule about confrontations that might lead to force and bloodshed.

Until we can find the weaknesses of this species, we cannot arrive at a solution which will produce success without needless waste of life
, he said as gently and persuasively as possible. He didn't wish to aggravate the Rowan, and he knew her sentiments in depth, but he also had the right to his opinions and the right to express them.

Even when Rojer has been the first casualty of such an attitude?
The Rowan's grey eyes flashed at him and she shifted herself away from his gentle support.

He sighed, but he expected nothing else.

A door whooshed open and Mrtgrts stood there a moment,
its poll eye aimed directly at the two Human Talents. As it stepped onto the bridge, Flk and Trp followed.

“
PRTGLM EXCEEDED ORDER AND OBEDIENCE. A CARRIER IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. IT MUST BE TRANSPORTED TO CLARF IF SUCH A TASK CAN BE REQUESTED OF TALENTS, KNOWING THAT A YOUNG OF YOURS HAS BEEN BASELY ABUSED. THERE WILL BE NO GOOD GREY DREAMS
.”

The Rowan gave a little shiver.
I'd like to consign Prtglm to this primary, not to Clarf
.

That would be sparing Prtglm the ultimate humiliation, Rowan
, Afra pointed out.
I can send a carrier that far if you would rather not deal with the send
.

Oh
, and her eyes blazed at him,
in that case I myself will bump him back to Clarf and half bury the capsule…

Afra signaled her to wait as he turned to Flk and Trp. “
WHAT HAPPENED TO GRL AND KTG AND WHY
?”

“
THEY PRESUMED TO INTERFERE WITH PRTGLM'S ORDERS TO RJR. PRTGLM PUNISHED SUCH PRESUMPTION
.”

The Rowan hid her eyes for a moment and a sob racked her. Afra sent the gentlest soothing thought he could, though his heart pounded bitterly at the sacrifice, at the terrible shock such a loss would have dealt his son. Rojer was no older, in either 'Dini or Human terms, than the two who had tried to help him. Afra could and did allow himself a brief surge of pride in a boy who would not be coerced into doing something against training and conscience.

“
THEY
,”
Flk continued, drawing itself up straight, “
DO HONOR TO THEIR COLOR AND THAT OF YOUR DWELLING
.”

“
THEY HONORED MY SON MORE
,” Afra said, though his voice cracked uncertainly. He bowed his head and let his tears flow. The 'Dinis didn't understand weeping but he scarcely cared at that moment what their reaction would be.

“Put your erring person in the carrier,” the Rowan said
in a steely voice. “Which station handles power generation?”

Every 'Dini pointed and she moved to that station, its attendant stepping respectfully back.

“Who is to be informed of the reasons for Prtglm's crime and return?” the Rowan asked Mrtgrts.

The big 'Dini inclined its body to the Rowan. “This one will inform Gktmglnt personally of this terrible misconduct of Prtglm who now submits to retribution. Details will be forwarded to you.”

The Rowan responded to that with a curt nod of her head. Gktmglnt was one of the high-placed 'Dinis who accepted Human reasoning and logic in the Alliance campaign to restrict Hiver incursions. A pall of tense silence was maintained until it was announced that the carrier had been loaded and was ready for transfer.

Afra followed the Rowan's thrust. She did not quite plow the capsule into the concrete of the Clarf landing field. She gave the Clarf Tower Prime, her granddaughter Laria, quite a shock to feel a carrier being brought in so precipitously.

Grandmother, I just had the most extraordinary orders not to touch that personnel pod. There's a crew swarming over it, painting some kind of message I can't understand. Is there someone or something inside? The sun's boiling here today. Anything enclosed like that will bake in its own juices
.