Shades of Gray (95 page)

“Three’s fallen over,” said J’korrash pointing to the third screen, which was now showing a close-up view of the landing pad surface.

“Look at the main screen,” said Zsaya, pointing.

Seven of the soldiers were turning toward the ship, trying to get back on board before the problems they were experiencing became too great. They all began to talk at once, babbling their complaints over the comm as their suits went into odd gyrations of movement, then suddenly froze.

“I think we got them,” said Kusac, sitting up. “Don’t bother replying to them anymore, Cheelar. Can you shut the suits down from the Bridge?”

“No, I’m afraid not. I can medicate them, though,” he said, his fingers flying over the key controls.

“Then you remain here while we go and disarm them. Any signs of movement, hit them with a strong sedative.”

“Wait, I’ve just found a poison I can use,” he said, his voice hushed. “Dammit, I hadn’t realized how bad the M’zullian command was till now.”

“Use it,” ordered Kusac. “Power up your suits,” he said as he put his helmet back on. “I don’t want them to see us in case any of them are playing dead. Cheelar, warn us if anything changes.”

“Aye, sir,” he said as the others followed him back out into the corridor.

“On our way out, Kaid. We’ll disarm them. Be prepared to cover us.”

“Will do,” replied Kaid.

They jogged down the corridor this time, slowing down only as they entered the cargo hold and crossed it to the open bay doors.

“Cheelar?” he asked.

“You’re good to go, Captain,” the youth said. “I’ve deployed the poison.”

“Exiting now, Kaid,” he said on their own Command channel.

“Copy. We’re standing by to cover you.”

He felt the touch of Kaid and Carrie’s minds monitoring his position as they left the safety of the hold and made their way slowly around the side of the ship, this time keeping close to it and ducking under the wings.

The soldiers hadn’t gotten far, but all were turned toward the ship to some degree, save the one that had fallen over.

Kusac scanned their minds swiftly first, sensing that they were all dead or unconscious.

“Take the nearest ones first,” said Kusac. “Their suits check out as genuinely frozen.”

He headed for the Lieutenant himself, quickly wrenching the energy rifle from the soldier’s gloved hands.

“It’s safe,” he said to Kaid. “They’re all dead.”

The others came pouring out of the warehouse toward them, surrounding the nearest soldiers.

Kusac had turned away from the Lieutenant and almost missed the sudden movement toward him as Cheelar’s warning sounded in his ears. There was a parting of the air beside him as the heavy suit arm just missed his head. He leaped to one side, swinging the rifle up and aiming for the helmet’s faceplate. The range was almost point-blank, and he backed off, continuing to shoot at the same spot. There was a sudden low explosion, and as the blast sent him flying along the concrete surface, the enemy suit was lifted up into the air. Its remains crashed down motionless a few feet from him.

“Sorry,” said Carrie apologetically, lowering her grenade launcher. “I wanted to be sure he was dead.”

Kusac’s laugh was slightly hysterical. “Oh, he’s that for sure,” he said, getting to his feet. “Next time, warn me.”

Sorry, love,
she sent.
I was frightened for you.

“You all right?” demanded Kaid.

“Yeah, just bruised. This armor is definitely lightweight,” he said, turning off the chameleon camouflage.

Yell incoming or something next time, Carrie,
sent Kaid sternly as they began to open the suits of the nearest two soldiers.
You could have killed him!

“I don’t know how he survived that long, Captain,” said Cheelar over the Command channel. “I poisoned them all as you ordered.”

“Understood,” said Kusac, walking stiffly over to help them.

“Saves us having to slaughter them later,” said Kaid. “I never did like that part of the job.”

“Shut the ship down, please, Cheelar and join us outside,” said Kusac. “Let the kids out on your way past.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Signal sent to the
Couana
,” said Rezac from inside the warehouse. “They’ll be here in half an hour.”

 

“Do you need the suits?” asked M’zayash, ever practical.

“No,” said Kaid. “No point now we know that ours are identical. Thankfully ours are far more advanced in design where it matters, and they can’t be controlled externally!”

“Then we’ll keep the suits. As you said the other night, it is time our young learned how to defend us themselves. This will be a start at least.”

“Suits alone won’t make warriors,” said Kusac.

“No, but we can ask General Kezule for some people to train our young,” Szayakk replied. “Today I have seen for myself that even in their suits, they are vulnerable. I just trust you are not equally at risk.”

“There’s always risk in war,” said Kaid. “Our job is to minimize it in our favor.”

The rest of their armored teams were stacking the now empty battle armor on one of two extra loaders sent specially by the village. The other one held the bodies of the dead soldiers for the villagers to dispose of.

“We’ve given your people a crate of dried meats and vegetables to help your food situation during the journey,” said M’zayash as they prepared to leave with the still shocked, but relieved youngsters. “I heard how bad the food aboard the ship was so we left one of the crates we were taking back for you.”

“Thank you,” said Kaid. “You’ve been more than kind to us during our short stay.”

“It’s little enough to help you in your war effort,” she said. “I wish we could do more.”

“Your hospitality has been a wonderful boost to our spirits,” said Kusac. “As is the food. Trust me, it is really appreciated.”

“Take care on that savage world,” she said as Kusac helped her up the steps into the loader. “Perhaps some day you and your family can come visit us and relax.”

Kusac exchanged a glance with Carrie, who smiled and nodded. “We’d like that.”

When they’d left, they turned back to the job of loading their personal effects onto the ship.

“I’ve had them clean up the Bridge,” said Carrie, adjusting her rifle over her suit as it threatened to fall off. “There wasn’t a lot of blood, but it’s clean now.”

“Thanks,” said Kusac. “Cheelar, will that virus affect any other part of the ship’s computer?”

“No, sir,” the youth replied. “The Touibans gave us a means to remove it, so if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go do it now.”

“Change out of that suit first,” he said. “No need to risk its electronics when we don’t need to.”

“Aye, sir,” he said. “Shall I put on my battle armor?”

“Might as well. We have to load it into their morgue anyway, and it weighs nothing if we’re wearing it. Tell the others to do the same, please. And once again, you did a good job there.”

“Thank you, sir,” the youth said grinning widely before he left.

“I think I hear the
Couana
,” said Kaid, looking up into the summer sky. He pointed up at a tiny glowing speck. “Yes, there it is.”

“Right on time,” murmured Kusac. “Carrie, did you by any chance check the rest of the ship?”

“Yes. There are plenty of berths for us, twenty-two to be exact,” she said, counting items off on her gloved fingers. “The bedding is a little ripe, but there are washing facilities for clothing, so we can clean it. The morgue is empty of suits, so there’s room for ours. The turret is controlled from inside it, and the missile launchers from inside the Bridge by one crew-man. The kitchens are clean, but the food is laced heavily with laalquoi as you already suspected, so I’m having it unloaded. Those supplies from M’zayash will be very welcome. There’s a basic sick bay—one autodoc and equipment, basic meds and dressings only. They obviously don’t put much effort into keeping their people alive.” she said, pulling a face. “There’re showers and toilets, obviously, but the three officer’s cabins have their own shower facilities.”

“You’ve been busy,” said Kaid, raising his eye ridges. “I’m impressed.”

“If you can let Jo, Noolgoi, and me go, we’ll see to getting enough bedding cleaned for us. We can use our sleeping bags, but it would be nicer to save them for when we need to use them. Oh, and you need to get the cargo loaded off to one side of the bay to leave room for the MUTAC,” she added. “Can we store our armor? We’ll be a lot faster if we’re not wearing it.”

“Go, and thank you,” said Kusac, reaching toward her to kiss her cheek. “Yes, put the armor in the morgue. We’ll see to arranging it all later.”

“How is it that females seem to be able to turn the most unappetizing surroundings into a comfortable den?” asked Kaid.

“It’s their inbuilt Talent,” said Kusac with a half smile as he watched her call for Jo and Noolgoi and clump off into the ship.

 

“Some somber news have I for you,” said Toueesut as he and his swarm came dancing over to them once the
Couana
had landed. “The M’zullians attacked K’oish’ik at dawn. The battle still rages, but the City and Palace are safe. Do not worry,” he said, forestalling Kusac’s exclamation of shock. “They told us the cubs are safe underground with the General and his young daughter in the Command Center there.”

“Thank the Gods for that,” said Kusac in relief.

“How’s the battle going?” asked Kaid.

“We are winning, but it is not being easy. There are many smaller ships and fighters to be reckoned with. Their surprise attack was not such a surprise as they hoped,” he chuckled, his mustaches quivering with amusement. “The force fields around the City and the weather station are holding, and they are keeping the battle from the planet surface. Only a few fighters have gotten through, but they were shot down very quickly. M’zullian casualties are being high, ours not so, thankfully due to our larger ships and more fighters.”

“I’m betting that the only reason that the tithe ship is here is because the females are promised to some Generals who demanded them now,” said Kusac thoughtfully.

“That is what I am thinking too,” nodded Toueesut. “What will he be doing when he learns that they have failed in the battle at K’oish’ik?”

“He’ll be angry and even more determined to destroy the Prime world,” said Kaid. “He assumed it would be an easy target, that they’d have no allies, or none that would be there when he attacked. He won’t make that mistake twice.”

“He’ll surely face censure from his Generals for underestimating Kezule,” said Kusac. “The next attack will be an all-out one.”

“That’s if his Generals agree to another in the near future,” said Kaid. “Now they know the Alliance is aiding Kezule, they may be less willing to go against it too soon. If not for us taking their tithe ship, they’d lick their wounds and, when ready, go for Ch’almuth. It’s a closer base to wage what may be a sustained war on K’oish’ik. But knowing we took this ship and then rescued Zhalmo from the heart of his Palace, who knows what he’ll do. It will certainly enrage him even more, and it will weaken his standing with the Generals.”

“Whatever he does, I think the sooner we leave for M’zull, the better,” said Kusac. “Before the news of his defeat reaches them. Once we’re based there, our actions will have to be taken into account by K’hedduk and his Generals. We can play on his defeat in our insurgent activities.”

“Definitely,” nodded Kaid, hearing the sound of the MUTAC being started up and turning to watch.

Slowly at first, like a giant metal feline, it stalked down the
Couana’s
ramp and onto Ch’almuth. Picking up speed, it began to lope the distance between it and the M’zullian ship. It moved gracefully, like a feral feline, its tail curling and arching to provide balance as it moved.

“Damn, but that’s a beautiful sight,” said Kusac, staring at it. “It’s moving so much more . . . naturally now. Look at the effect it’s having on the Ch’almuthians!”

The locals were backing off, looks of apprehension and fear on their faces as the nearest members of their unit tried to reassure them.

“I see,” said Kaid. “You say that you fitted handholds onto the legs?” he asked Toueesut.

The Touiban nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, indeed. Hand-and footholds, but we also added an antipersonnel field to the legs so no one but your people can be climbing onto them. The pilot has cameras feeding images of the underside, and if he is seeing such people, he can also send a charge through the body to repel them. We also adapted cargo area inside for one injured person to be stowed. It is cramped but better than being roughly carried off a battlefield.”

“I seem to remember Jurrel mentioning that,” said Kaid.

“Jurrel,” said Kusac over his mic. “Do you need time to practice?”

“I’m fine, but I wouldn’t mind putting her through her paces,” Jurrel replied.

“You have fifteen minutes,” said Kusac, watching as the lope increased to a run. “They attacked K’oish’ik this morning. We’re winning, but I want to leave as soon as possible so we get there before their fleet returns to M’zull. We don’t want to run into an angry returning army when we land on or leave M’zull.”

“Damn, that’s going to make it tight for us,” Jurrel muttered. “Fifteen minutes it is.”

 

With the help of the loaders from both the
Couana
and the M’zullian ship—called
Aggressor—
they were loaded up within the hour, their supplies nestled at the sides of the bay with the MUTAC tied down safely in the center. Battle suits were taken off in the morgue and checked over before being fully shut down and rigged to fit to the ship’s recharging units.

Meanwhile, Toueesut’s swarm mates had been busy with the communications system, patching in one of their own that would allow them the luxury of communicating with the
Couana
in jump space as well as when they exited at M’zull.