The War of Pawns (The Human Chronicles -- Book Three) (38 page)

Yes, Adam was very anxious to meet this amazing alien.

Sherri and four other SEALs chose to accompany Adam and Riyad on their mission, yet would stay aboard the Juirean battlecruiser with Kaylor and Jym. They would serve as a backup for the main force, should the need arise. Sherri had insisted on coming along, saying that she was the only other person who could help guide the SEALs in the event of a rescue mission. Adam was glad to have her along. He knew her capabilities. Besides, they hadn’t had much time to spend together since he had acquired his new rank and responsibilities.

Lt. Tobias remained on Calamore to coordinate communications with Admiral Allen and to begin the training of the non-converts who chose to join them. It had also been decided that they would not allow the other non-converts to return to Earth until Adam’s force moved into The Fringe. Tobias instructed his men not to reveal any information regarding their plans, or the location of their new base, to any of those returning to Earth. Undoubtedly, the returning Humans would be subjected to all kinds of interrogation by the Klin, and they couldn’t reveal what they did not know.

On the fifth day, the great Juirean battleship left orbit and initiated a deep well. They would have to skirt the Barrier and enter the Void on the Rigor side of The Fringe. The Barrier was filled with too much matter to risk passage directly through it.

Even though gravity wells protected star travelers from most debris that could damage, or even destroy a spaceship, the densities found in nebular gas were just too much for the wells to handle. It took a fine balance of interstellar material to both feed the drive, yet not overload it at the same time. There could be nothing worse than blowing a well, and then finding oneself moving at near-light speed in a cluster of debris, where even the smallest particle was capable of ripping the largest starship to shreds.

The passage to the Nimorian system would take nine days in the battlecruiser, and then Adam and Riyad would take the landing craft the rest of the way in. For this part of the operation, all they needed to do was locate Angar.

Fortunately, the trip into the Void was uneventful, and even though they did detect additional activity near the inner boundary of the Void, no one saw fit to make contact with the Juirean battlecruiser.

The Kyllian asteroids provided a good hiding place for the cruiser, and soon Adam and Riyad were in the pilothouse of the Juirean landing craft, headed for Nimor on a homecoming of sorts. Nimor had been Adam’s first experience with an alien planet, and he could vividly recall the shootout he had with the Rigorians, an event that had first revealed Human superiority to him. Also, it had been while leaving the planet after escaping from the Nimorian jail that Adam had first encountered Riyad Tarazi.

As they approached Nimor, Adam stared out the viewport and began to sense a sickening feeling in his stomach. Almost two years had passed since he’d last gazed upon the surface of the planet, and at that time his only thoughts were about finding a way home. Now his life had become a lot more complicated, and his goals affected more than just himself. There was nothing for him back on Earth. Now all he had was the mission – and the revenge. And he was committed to both one-hundred percent

With so much additional Juirean activity in the Sector, detecting a small military craft approaching the planet didn’t raise any concern with the Nimorian authorities. When the inquiry came through, Riyad simply stated they were on a survey mission of the area north of Gildemont and would be landing at a non-designated location of their choosing. The Nimorians did not see fit to challenge the Juirean ship.

Riyad scanned the Library, and quickly located the relative of Angar’s he was seeking. When he mentioned the name Fredic Dess to Adam, Riyad was surprised to find that Adam knew him.

“He’s the bastard who first had us arrested. I didn’t know he was related to Angar.”

“How do you think we got all the information about you and the Klin ship? And I see he’s moved up in the world after receiving the money I paid him for that information.” Riyad scanned the screen, detailing the latest information available on Dess. He now lived in an exclusive region of Gildemont, usually reserved for the very wealthy. Riyad didn’t recall paying him enough to make such a move, so Angar must have skimmed more out of the pirate coffers for his relative.

If anyone would know Angar’s whereabouts, it would be Fredic Dess.

They did a gravity landing in a large vacant area just to the east of Dess’s compound. The plan was simply to ask where the former pirate leader could find Angar, and leave it at that. Even still, Adam chose to wear full gear, along with an M4 complete with attached grenade launcher. You just never knew for sure…

Riyad was dressed in a simple blue tunic, with an MK-17 holstered around his waist.

As the two Humans casually approached the front entrance to the compound, they were surprised to find half-a-dozen guards manning the gate hut and lining the upper levels of the surrounding walls. It seemed strange to have this much security around a residence, especially that of a former bureaucrat for the local government.

There were four Nimorian guards at the guard hut, along with two Rigorians eyeing them suspiciously from the wall, each cradling XF flash rifles. Adam’s own outfit looked intimidating and out of place, so the guards saw him as the primary threat. The Humans didn’t hesitate in their approach, but instead tried their best to look as though they belonged there.

“State your business!” one of the Nimorians called out when they were about 10 meters from the gate.

“I am Riyad Tarazi here to see Fredic Dess. Please announce my arrival.”

The Nimorian ducked back into the hut. A moment later, he reappeared. “You are to approach the monitor,” he said, as weapons were raised in their direction.

Riyad and Adam neared the hut, and stood in front of a small monitor camera mounted along the hut’s fascia. Both the Humans looked up at the camera. Adam was hoping that in his current garb, Dess would not recognize him.

Suddenly, a voice called out from a hidden speaker. “General! It
is
you!”

Riyad immediately recognized the voice. “Angar? You’re here?”

“Yes, sir. Please enter. I thought you were dead.”

“You know me – I’m indestructible, my friend.”

They were allowed through the main gate and directed into the main foyer of the massive residence. Yes, Fredic Dess had been paid additional credits beyond what Riyad had authorized. But that was water under the bridge. So much had changed since then.

Angar’s black furry body appeared, wearing a gold jacket and dark blue pants. Another Nimorian, Fredic Dess, was a step behind him, dressed in a gray robe and wearing a look of suspicion. Angar stopped a couple of steps in front of his former leader.

“I am so surprised to see you, General. The last I saw of you, there was a Juirean cruiser trailing after you over a moon of Dimloe. And I have not heard from you in all this time. So many of our crews were lost that day, I thought you were among them.”

Angar led Riyad and Adam to a large green sofa, where they sat, while a Nimorian female brought in ice water for them to drink. Adam doubted if Human chemistry was programmed into the home’s dietary module, so water was always a safe bet.

Angar and Dess sat in two chairs opposite the sofa, and Adam saw Dess’s gaze lock onto him.

“You’re the Human who broke out of the jail building,” he stated flatly.

“And you’re the one who turned me over to the Juireans.”

Riyad sat his glass down on a table in front of the sofa and looked at the two beings as they eyed each other. “Calm down everyone. Everything worked out as it should have. We are all still alive,” and then while looking around the room, “and some are doing quite well, I see.”

Angar also noticed the tension between Adam and Dess. “Yes, my General. Once I rounded up what remained of The Fringe Pirates, I have been using my cousin’s home as a base of operations. We are just now beginning to recover some of our lost status, although nothing like during the height of your leadership, General. But why have you returned, and why to Fredic’s home?”

“We came looking for you.”

A look of concern crossed Angar’s face, a look Riyad noticed immediately. “No, my friend, I am not here to cause you any harm. In fact, I have a business proposition for you.”

Angar shifted his gaze from Riyad to Adam, and then back again. “What sort of proposition?” Angar’s voice trailed out slowly as he spoke.

“Don’t trust them, Angar,” Fredic Dess said quickly. “They could be working with the Juireans.”

With that comment, both Adam and Riyad laughed out loud. The sight of their long, white teeth caused both aliens to recoil slightly before the two Humans could catch themselves. They had both been away from alien society long enough to have forgotten some of their manners.

“We laugh because the idea of Humans and Juireans working together is so preposterous. As a matter of fact, there is a war coming soon between us and the Juireans.”

“There have been rumors. And you expect to win this war?” Dess asked, sarcasm dripping in his tone.

“You should ask your cousin if he believes we can win,” Riyad said, matching Dess’s tone.

“What is this proposal you have for me?” Angar asked, quickly changing the subject.

Adam spoke up. “We want you to contact Kroekus and set a meeting for you and him away from his headquarters.”

Angar just stared at Adam for several seconds, waiting to see if the Human was serious or not. When nothing further came from Adam, Angar simply shook his head.

“Kroekus is a very dangerous being. What makes you think I could even contact him?”

Riyad spread out a wide grin, being cautious this time to keep his mouth closed. “Since you have resurrected The Fringe Pirates, you
must
be in contact with Kroekus. You forget who you’re talking with.”

“And even if I could, General, it does not sound like you mean to do my relationship with the Silean any good. If I agree to help you, my relationship with him could be jeopardized.”

“That’s why I would offer you ten-million credits for your help.”

Angar, as well as his cousin, were visibly stunned by Riyad’s statement. Adam was equally shocked, but he kept his emotions to himself, his main concern being the fact that between the two of them, they didn’t even have a single credit, let alone 10-million.

“Ten million just for arranging a meeting?”

“Not exactly. I also want you to broker the purchase of three Exitor’s from Kroekus, and arrange for their transport to a location of my choosing.”

Angar was silent for another long moment. Ten-million credits was a lot of money, even for the new head of The Fringe Pirates. “Do you have the credits with you?” he asked.

“Not yet, but I will. You know what I’m capable of.”

“So Kroekus will sell three starships, making his profit on them, and I will make ten-million? That doesn’t seem like too bad of a proposition.”

“It’s not. But I need you to arrange the meeting immediately, and to have pilots standing by to fly the ships out as soon as you get the word. Can you do that?”

Angar looked over at his cousin, who simply nodded. “I think that can be arranged. But I have never met Kroekus face-to-face. What excuse would I use for meeting outside his office?”

“Tell him the Juireans are looking for you, and you would be arrested if you appeared at his office. He will know what happened the last time a Fringe Pirate showed up at his doorstep. How soon can you be on Silea?”

“Five days. I will contact Kroekus immediately and arrange for the purchase. But, General, I must be assured you will have the credits, not only for me, but for the purchase of the ships.”

“Leave that to me. I have vastly more resources than I had before.” Riyad handed him a data chip. “This is encoded. Contact me here with the details of the meeting. At the time of purchase, I will transmit the coordinates where the ships are to be delivered. And do not mention my name to Kroekus. That is of paramount importance. ” Then Riyad grinned again. “It’s good to be working with you again, Captain Angar.”