Seers of Verde: The Legend Fulfilled: Book One (12 page)

16

Choosing the right five people to negotiate with the GEMS representatives was a difficult decision for the ten council leaders. Especially infuriating was the request that one of the five colonists should be a woman. In the end, the leaders chose Lar Vonn, Neb Klinfer, Wald Bergmann, Riss Nels and Martje Ryyt.

Martje was chosen for her heroism and the superior fighting skills she had exhibited during the first Tanlian attack. No one questioned why Lar excused himself when the council voted for her. None of the colonists knew what to expect from the Tanlians and their GEMS allies. They all suspected a trap.

“For a man who does not like to be involved in the mundane activities of the colony, you seem to have become very prominent,” Lar teased Wald after the other council members left to finalize defenses for their camps.

The geologist cocked an eye at the security chief and flashed a sly smile. “And you, my friend, will have your own, ah, body guard, I see,” Wald said, referring to Martje. Lar faked an angry frown, then nodded, conceding the verbal jab.

A few people knew of Lar’s tryst with Martje the night before, but it was not a topic of main concern with the colonists. The Tanlian threat was much more important. The private affairs between a man and woman usually stayed private.

“You have chosen the meeting site well,” Lar said. Wald had picked a small canyon with natural rock walls that ran straight up for hundreds of meters and almost closed at the top. The canyon split off the colonists’ valley, but it snaked around, dividing into two more side canyons that would serve as a more than adequate escape route if needed.

Seeing Neb, Ris, and Martje walking toward them, Lar turned to Wald. “Let’s invite our guests to our lovely valley.”

Ismala N’pofu accepted the colonists’ invitation to the planet and relayed the coordinates to Masat Ebber. The captain shook his head. “Damn colonists. It will take us an hour to reach them once we land, and they could attack us from anywhere.”

Ismala shrugged. “Would you have expected any less? They will watch our every step. Would not you do the same thing if you were them?”

Masat grumbled, but agreed he likely would be just as wary.

“Before we go, I ask permission to send a message. It may seem strange, but trust me,” she said.

Masat nodded and gestured for her to make her transmission. The captain watched with interest as Ismala typed a complicated code into the ship’s communications board. After double checking her readings, she recorded her message.

“This is Ismala N’pofu, colony director of the Galaxy Exploration and Minerals Syndicate, calling the Colonization Alliance of Independent Nations. My transport ship attempted to answer a distress call from planet XR-309. We were unable to locate the source of the call. However, we regret to inform you that your new colony has been attacked by Tanlians.”

She paused for dramatic effect. “We have found no living colonists after many days of searching this lovely world. I fear the worst for your brave people. The attackers have vanished and so have your colonists. I am transmitting images of the burnt-out settlement. This world is very close to Tanlian transport flights. As you know we have a treaty with the Tanlians. The Syndicate would gladly trade XR-309 for one of our planets in the bioforming stage, closer to your territory. Again, my sympathies on the loss of your people.”

Ismala looked up to see an impressed Masat smiling at her. “This message will transmit on a continuous loop for two hours. The Alliance should receive it in a week. This planet will make a wonderful addition to the Syndicate.”

¶ ¶ ¶

Taryl stopped giving orders to her new attendants and stared straight ahead. She felt the presence of intruders, but the time was all wrong. The Tanlians were preparing to land in their valley at night to begin their forays. One of her aides brought her a chair and guided the Seer down into it. None of her new followers had witnessed her experiencing “second sight.” The room was hushed except for Larinia’s happy gurgling. Taryl breathed deeply, letting her sight find the strangers.

Startling images slowly came into focus. Something was wrong with this experience. Taryl found herself looking across a rough-hewn table at Lar Vonn and four other colonists, including the woman he had slept with the night before. The shock of seeing the colonists almost made her lose concentration, but Taryl held on to the sight. The trembling woman tried to see who she was seeing through, but could not.

Her “host" did not look away from the colonists. Lar and the others were solemn, listening to whoever was speaking. Finally, her host glanced around the table. Two Tanlians and two people from GEMS sat opposite the colonists, sitting together — like allies. A chill radiated down her spine.

Now her host watched Wald Bergmann speak. The geologist was smiling and gesturing, occasionally he waved in the direction of the mountain that separated the two groups of colonists. It appeared the other colonists were surrendering or even worse, revealing her group’s position.

Finally breaking the connection, Taryl sat wide-eyed, not believing what she had seen. After having her heart broken the night before, she suspected the worst of Lar and his group. He had betrayed her once, and it seemed his group were endangering her people.

Her people?
What an interesting thought. It just felt right. Taryl considered herself as the colonists’ protector.

¶ ¶ ¶

Masat Ebber and the red-haired colonist across from him stared at each other. He sized up this thin colonist as prey, mentally going through the motions it would take to kill this man if necessary. However, the Tanlian captain got the uneasy feeling his counterpart was doing the same thing.

Neb Klinfer was wary about this meeting. But the large man in front of him commanded his attention. The hunter could tell there was something different about him, the way he scanned the horizon and took in every detail of the others.

At times, the Syndicate man seemed to have a far-away look as if he were distracted by something. Perhaps listening? That thought disturbed Neb. The other man may have a listening device. Who knew what was being planned?

Neb readied himself for a possible attack. A throwing knife was tucked just inside his sleeve. One quick motion was all he needed to bring down the big man. Breaking the stare with a bored look, the hunter glanced at his companions. Everyone but Wald was intense.

Martje was stone-faced as she and the large Syndicate males exchanged cold stares. The lead negotiator acted too pleasant for the situation. She took turns talking with and smiling at Wald and Lar. The geologist seemed captivated by her presence, but Lar stayed serious. The security chief occasionally looked up and down the table, studying everyone. Neb could tell Lar was sizing up the potential combatants.

Wald and the Syndicate woman babbled on, discussing trivialities. Neb grew more uneasy with every second. The air seemed charged with energy. Words now ceased making sense to the hunter, and time slowed. He could almost count the breaths from everyone.

When Neb returned his gaze to the man across from him, the other bore a far-away intent expression. Slowly raising his hand to his lips, the man coughed and announced the need for a break. His female companion glared at him, but nodded her agreement.

“What is it Masat?” Ismala demanded, struggling to keep her voice low. “We must put these people at ease, show them we can be trusted.”

The Tanlian captain scoffed. “These colonists will never trust us. I have information from my ship comm operator. Apparently the colonists on the other side of the mountain are willing to trade these people for their safety. We have been given the location of all their nests in this valley. This group has no missiles. They can only offer hand-to-hand resistance.”

Ismala stared at Masat in disbelief. “The others have betrayed these people with no provocation? How can we believe them?” she asked. “Perhaps the others are the ones with no missiles and are trying to save themselves. Have you studied these five colonists?”

“I sense some nervousness, but no fear, except for Wald. The only unusual thing I noticed was the feeling I was being watched, but that has passed. Let us return to the table and see what information we can find.”

¶ ¶ ¶

The five colonists gathered to discuss the visitors. “These Syndicate people are acting strange, especially the large one across from me,” Neb said. “I suspect he has a listening device. Something happened that made him want to leave momentarily.”

Lar nodded and looked at the others to get an indication of their feelings on the subject.

“I agree,” Martje said. “It felt like the man across from me was measuring me for a fight.”

Wald shrugged. “I cannot tell the woman’s intentions other than she is a skilled negotiator, smooth and unafraid. We may find out soon. They have returned to the table.”

Ismala flashed a warm smile at Wald. “What can you tell us about the others? The ones across the mountain. Why are there two groups?” Wald raised his eyebrows at such a direct question. Her tone had changed after the break.

“Oh, those are several dozen researchers who got separated when the Tanlians attacked the first time,” he said with a shrug, matching her smile. “They have blamed us for being stranded, but we warned them.”

“Researchers?” Ismala said, not bothering to mask her surprise. “But the other valley looks like a much more suitable place for a colony.” Wald smiled, but did not answer.

“Let us part peacefully,” Ismala said with a graceful wave. “As I said, you have my word your people will have safe passage back to the nearest GEMS outpost if you willingly give up this world. The Syndicate has offered your Alliance a trade for a more suitable planet, one out of harm’s way. Until we meet again.”

As Ismala and her party rose to leave, Neb and Masat glared at each other one last time.

“I look forward to our next meeting, colonist,” Masat said, his lips curling into a snarl.

“The pleasure will be mine,” Neb said, grinning at the other man’s reaction.

¶ ¶ ¶

Back on the ship, Masat laughed at the audacity of the colonists in the large valley. Without remorse, they had revealed the positions of the group he had just met with. But, whoever sent the message from the surface had threatened the Tanlians with death if they kept searching the valley.

“The CAIN traitors may be scared of being discovered,” he said to Ismala. “Perhaps we are getting close. It won’t hurt to sweep one more sector. We may be able to capture both groups.

17

Uri and one hundred men of his most trusted security forces lay in wait for the Tanlian ship to land and unload searchers. The lieutenant and his men had camouflaged themselves well among the trees or dug into positions in the ground.

Uri left half of his troops to guard the colonists. Those he left behind were exhibiting an annoying loyalty to Taryl Bryann. Uri planned to deal with that situation when he returned to the settlement. The Seer had undergone a troublesome change and now apparently was growing accustomed to issuing orders.

After about one-half hour, a small ship appeared overhead, exactly where Taryl had indicated it would land. It silently lowered itself to the surface, powerful search lights flashed back and forth, examining the area. It hovered overhead for several seconds, then landed. A hatch swooshed open and a swarm of humanity burst out, running to take protective positions.

After all the Tanlians were safely out, a commander must have given an all-clear signal. The intruders rose as one and started separating into small groups. It looked like they outnumbered the colony defenders two to one.

Uri buzzed his troops on a secure channel. “On my signal, fire the sonics and energy bursts. Then pick a target and drop as many as you can. Ready men.” He waited for a few seconds, and then gave the order. The first barrage from the colony defenders caught the Tanlians by surprise. Many were knocked to the ground by the onslaught of the sonics and energy bursts.

Confused and dragging their wounded, the invaders tried to make it back to their ship as Uri’s soldiers kept firing, killing many more. An energy cannon swiveled around from the collector ship and fired in the direction of the colonists. Not having a clear target, the bursts fell where the colonists had been, but Uri’s group had vacated their positions to chase the Tanlians.

As if on cue, another Tanlian collector appeared out of nowhere and fired into the colony defenders. Shocked, Uri looked up thinking,
That ship is supposed to be ten kilometers away
, but he didn’t have time to dwell on the thought. Grabbing his handheld rocket launcher, Uri sprinted toward the Tanlian ship on the ground. The ship’s door was starting to close as the last of its crew tumbled in.

Uri crouched, took a deep breath, and fired. His missile shot through the door. The Tanlian ship exploded into a fireball. The overhead Tanlian flyer opened up on the colonists, covering the area with large energy bursts. In less than two minutes, Uri and his men lay dead.

¶ ¶ ¶

Hearing the report of the battle, Masat shook his head in disbelief. The first group of his landers had been taken by surprise and wiped out. But the second collector received a message telling them the coordinates of the colony fighters and rushed to the site.

“I think the colonists in the large valley have proven their point,” Ismala said. “Your men all could easily have been killed by that ambush. But then they were saved by the colonists’ message to our second collector.”

Masat rested his chin on clenched fists. “Enough with this side of the mountain,” he said raising his hands in frustration. “Let’s go after easier prey. I have unfinished business with that red-haired colonist.”

¶ ¶ ¶

Taryl opened her eyes and let out a heavy sigh. Feigning sorrow, she told her attendants Uri and his men had been killed defending the colony. “The Tanlians are leaving. It appears we have convinced them we can defend ourselves.” Some of Taryl’s attendants hugged each other, knowing their Seer had saved them once again. A few others wept with joy.

Taryl smiled at her group. She had strengthened her influence on them even more. It would not take much convincing to win over the remaining colonists. “Someone please inform Franca and the other women that their brave mates have died as heroes,” the Seer said in a somber tone. “After they have mourned, invite them to join us.”

¶ ¶ ¶

Lar Vonn was yawning and stretching in his cot, trying to wake up, when the alarm sounded. Jumping up, he rushed to his doorway to confirm what he heard. Up and down the rock hallway, the other colonists poked their heads out and looked at the security chief.

Martje Ryyt came running toward Lar. She was dressed and armed, carrying an energy-pulse rifle, and knives of all sizes almost dripped off her. The look on her face was all Lar needed to know. He grabbed his weapon belt and a protective tunic.

“We are under attack!” he yelled as he ran through the cave warrens. “Those able to fight, take your positions. You others get to the escape routes and stay in the safe areas until we come for you.” With no more urging, the colonists poured out of their rooms without a word.

Lar and Martje ran for the entrance and were joined by other colony fighters filing out from other tunnels. The sound of sonics and hisses of energy blasts greeted the colonists as they poured out of the cave to join the guards outside.

Seeing Wald among the rocks, Lar sprinted over, keeping low. The geologist glanced to see who had joined him and then returned to gazing through his magni-view.

“How many?” Lar asked, watching the Tanlians sprint from rock to rock, trying to hide from the colonists’ protective fire.

“More than we can defend with our present numbers, although there are a few less Tanlians now. They stumbled on our warning mines,” Wald looked up and grinned, but changed expression quickly. “We won’t be able to hold them off for long.”

Lar nodded. “We won’t need to. The others have had time to get to safety by now. We can retreat to the caves and fight them there.” Wald shuddered. The security chief put his hand on the geologist’s shoulder. “All your traps and plans have worked well. They have kept us alive and given us a chance. Now it comes to man against man. We will inflict great losses among them if they keep attacking. It’s time for you to escape now, my friend.”

Wald shot Lar a somber look. The two men had disliked each other after the escaping colonists had landed and sought refuge in Wald’s beloved caverns. Now the geologist was having trouble saying good-bye in this moment of danger. Clasping the security chief’s hand in the old Earth custom, Wald managed to choke out, “Good luck.” He turned and scurried back into the caverns.

¶ ¶ ¶

Neb Klinfer watched the Tanlians swarm toward his encampment. Lar’s group had warned them they were under attack, and soon afterwards, Neb’s scouts sounded a similar alarm. It appeared the Tanlians and their Syndicate allies were approaching the colonists at both ends in an attempt to trap them in the middle.

The hunter watched the attackers, trying to determine what they were up against. “It looks like over one hundred,” he said to Drever Zanden, who was standing nearby.

“How did they find us?” Drever said shaking his head. “Our encampment is the best hidden. A stranger would have to know where to look.”

Neb shrugged. “Maybe spies. It’s too late to worry about that now. Let’s give them some light resistance and retreat to the tunnels. We need them to follow us in before we can spring our surprise.”

This encampment was created differently from where Lar and his group were housed. At Neb’s urging, Wald and his men had enclosed most of this cave’s opening, only leaving two small rectangular passages for people to walk through.

During an emergency, Neb wanted to be able to seal off the entrances, trapping some of the attackers inside the cave to wander hopelessly through the tunnels. His people would escape to well-hidden areas outside and defenders would double back.

Neb waited for about ten minutes before giving the order to retreat. One by one, his people disappeared into the cavern. Standing just inside the darkened entrance, Neb shot three Tanlians through the head with his Earth hunting rifle. He wanted to make the other attackers angry enough to follow him inside; it worked.

¶ ¶ ¶

Riss Nels and the other seven camp leaders heard the alarms and got their people to safety. After determining their camps were not yet under attack, the leaders acted quickly. Splitting up into two groups, defenders from these camps rushed to the aid of Lar and Neb. Wald and his men had drilled hidden safety trails through the mountains so the colonists could reach one another in an emergency.

The group heading to help Neb’s camp found the hunter and his followers already had the Tanlians trapped. Some of the attackers had followed Neb and Drever into the caverns and had been slaughtered in the dark passages by the defenders.

Other Tanlians had found their way out of the tunnels, only to suffer a heavy barrage of every known man-made weapon. Arrows, bullets, energy pulses, and sonics came screaming into their midst, killing them one by one. Everywhere the Tanlians scrambled, there seemed to be colonists lying in wait, ready to pick them off.

One large Tanlian moved with ease through the rocky terrain. Riss recognized him as one of the Syndicate woman’s guards, the man who had sat across from Neb.
Obviously he’s not one of them
, Riss thought, his face in a tight grimace while taking aim with his energy pulser.

Twice he missed the darting figure, who cut down colonists with efficient skill. The Tanlian carried two long knives that were practically swords. Another figure caught his eye moving parallel to the Tanlian. The second man was taking care to stay out of the large man’s sight.

Grabbing his mag-viewers, Riss glimpsed a familiar red-headed figure snaking through the rocks following the large Tanlian. Both men disappeared from Riss’s view. He wanted to signal Neb and tell him the enemy’s location, but he did not want to chance exposing his friend. Too far away to help, Riss helplessly watched the deadly drama unfold.

Neb had seen Masat scrambling through the rocks, gutting any defender he faced. Most of his men were hunters, such as himself, not skilled in combat techniques. The large man must have killed seven or eight of Neb’s people.

Neb carefully made his way to an overhang about twenty meters away and lay in wait, as if he was hunting a grazer. Lying on his stomach, the hunter watched the Tanlian inch his way closer.

Not realizing Neb was nearby, Drever also was hunting Masat. The Tanlian managed to slip away every time he took aim. It was easy to mark the attacker’s progress by the screams of his dying victims. Drever carried an old Earth shotgun, good for close-range shooting with its spray-pattern shot. Holding up the shotgun’s barrel so he could make his way through the rocks, Drever peeked around one large boulder; nothing.

As he made his way through a narrow opening, Masat sprung at him. Drever tried to swing the gun around, but the Tanlian knocked it out of his hands and stabbed him through the chest. Drever collapsed, chocking in his blood.

Masat pulled his knife out of Drever’s chest and had straightened up when he felt a hot stab in his back. Pain shot through his body. In shock, he looked down to see an odd point sticking out of his stomach.

“You’ve killed enough of my friends Tanlian,” a voice said above him. Masat clumsily shuffled around and looked up to see a red-haired man holding an ancient weapon. Neb took careful aim and let his second arrow fly. The big man swayed after the arrow passed through his neck, a look of surprise on his face and fell in a heap.

¶ ¶ ¶

Ismala N’pofu had reluctantly allowed her brother, Shadra, to join the Tanlians in their hunt for colonists. She now sat at the ship’s console, listening in horror to the slaughter taking place on the planet. The Tanlians were not doing the killing, but were being slaughtered one by one.

Shadra had followed a Tanlian party of about twenty men into the caverns that supposedly housed Lar Vonn and that annoying Wald Bergmann. He had hoped for a chance to kill one or both of the colonists. No longer would he be known back home as just Ismala’s brother, but he would be famous as a killer of the despised Alliance people.

The hunting party had turned into a fight for survival for Shadra and the others. Two Tanlians had run into one of the cave shelters after hearing a noise only to be blown apart by a fierce explosion. Screams could be heard down the tunnels. When his group rushed to the sounds, they found a dead Tanlian or two lying on the cold stone floor, blood pouring out of knife wounds. No colonists’ bodies were found.

Growing more nervous with each passing meter, the Tanlian party decided to turn back and take their chances outside. Shadra did not argue, but trailed the others, keeping to the shadows. His group slowly made its way out of the tunnels where they were greeted by sunlight streaming into the entrance. All but Shadra rushed out and were greeted by a fusillade of energy blasts from outside and behind.

A group of colonists had appeared out of hidden alcoves and gotten behind the Tanlians. All the attackers, except for Shadra, were dead in a matter of a few seconds. Desperation seized Ismala’s brother as he hung back in a doorway, wondering what to do.

A lone figure stood in the cave entrance talking on a communicator. Shadra crept close. The voice was familiar. Lar Vonn was talking with the other colony leaders, assessing the battle. It was clear the colonist was happy. He laughed, relieved his people had repelled the attack.

Listening to Lar, Shadra could tell the Tanlians had all been killed. The security chief mentioned one of the big men who had escorted the Syndicate woman. Masat was killed, too, he realized. Shadra was shocked. The Tanlians had expected a few losses, but these colonists had no missiles, no flyers.

How could this have happened? His situation seemed hopeless. If Shadra gave himself up, he would return home a disgrace. He may even lose his family name if the clan fathers so deemed. The best he could hope for would be to find work as a common laborer.

“Alliance rat!” Shadra called out fiercely, stepping out of the shadows and brandishing two knives.

Surprised, Lar spun around and aimed his energy pulser at the oncoming man. “I see you survived,” the security chief said with disgust. “I suppose you want to plead clemency so you can return home safely.”