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  “Any more tactical details such as the numbers of the Others on the planet, their firepower, capabilities of their craft?”

  “There could be, sir. As I said, they’re still decoding the message,” replied Myak, following the Commander out.

  “Has a course been set for KX 1311?”

  “They’re waiting for your orders, sir.”

  “Tell the bridge to have a chart of sector six set up on the main screen.”

  *

  When Raguul reached the bridge, it was humming with suppressed excitement. Sub-Commander Kolem rose from his seat, offering it to the Commander. With a nod of thanks, Raguul sat down.

  “Have you finished decoding the message?” he asked.

  “Just finished, sir,” said Communications. “Putting it on audio now.”

  Raguul and his bridge crew sat and listened to the voice of Mito Rralgu, the communications officer from the scouter Sirroki. Though terse, the message held all the information they had hoped it would.

  Getting to his feet again, Raguul turned to Sub-Commander Kolem. “I want yourself, Tactics, Weapons, and Sub-Commander Chaazu in my briefing room today at the fourth hour. See that the chart of sector six is set up on the holotable. Keep the ship on Yellow 2 alert and ensure Chaazu gets the message. With a week of transit time ahead of us, I want those ground troops of his ready before we reach KX 1311.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “In the meantime, relay that message to my comm. Sholan High Command will want to hear it. The bridge is yours.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  *

  Raguul was finishing his meal in the bridge mess when he was paged through the comm system.

  “Approaching KX 1311 now, sir,” said Sub-Commander Kolem’s voice.

  With a growl of annoyance, he gulped down his mug of c’shar and got to his feet. Changing his mind, he turned and neatly speared the remaining piece of meat with a clawtip. These disturbed meals weren’t doing his gut-ache any good. Up until a week ago this had been a boring, routine mission. He had a feeling it wasn’t going to last. Mop-up operations had a way of getting very messy.

  Kolem rose and stood aside for the Commander.

  Raguul waved him back. “Sit, sit. I’ll stand for now,” he said, looking at the view screen displaying the KX 1311 system. “I presume there’s no sign yet of that back-up we were promised?”

  “Not yet, sir.”

  A sudden burst of sound filled the bridge, then stopped.

  “Our long-range scanners have activated a coded message from the life pod, sir,” said the comm officer.

  “Get onto it immediately,” said Raguul.

  “I’m picking up an incoming signal in sector five, sir,” said Navigation. “It’s an Alliance fleet identity. They should be on screen any moment now.”

  A portion of the upper right-hand quadrant of the screen appeared to waver, then steady as a group of ships materialized out of jump.

  “Identities coming in now, sir. Battleship Cheku, accompanied by the cruisers T’chelu, Rryabi, Vriji, and the Vek’ihk, a Sumaan craft.”

  “Signal from the Cheku, sir,” said the secondary communications officer. “Cheku’s comm officer says Commander Vroozoi wishes to speak to you in private. He adds that the tanker and escort ships are following.”

  “Patch it through to my briefing room,” said Raguul, turning away from the screen.

  *

  “Force Commander,” said Raguul, a flick of his ears acknowledging the other’s superior rank. “What can I do for you?”

  “Raguul. I see you struck it lucky this time,” said Vroozoi. “High Command says you’ve found a den of these Others.”

  “Yes, Commander. As you know, our report says there are only a few thousand of them on the planet. Though I doubt we’ll need all your firepower, it’s still comforting to have it. We aren’t equipped for an extended military campaign.”

  “Each to his own, eh, Raguul?” Vroozoi dropped his mouth in a lazy smile. “That’s why we’re here.” His tone changed and became sharper, more businesslike. “I want you to join me an hour from now for a tactical briefing. You’ll get a copy of your new orders then. Your assault craft will remain on the Khalossa, but they and their crews will form an integrated part of my task force. Once the planet has been secured, you’ll be in charge of the diplomatic side. I’ll see you within the hour,” he said, reaching forward to close the channel.

  Raguul frowned at the comm. He’d come across Vroozoi before. An ambitious male, that one, determined to climb as high as he could within the forces. Rumor had it that there were more than a few people who had had the misfortune to be between him and what he wanted. Their shattered careers littered his past like fallen leaves. Raguul didn’t intend to become one of them.

  He sighed and, leaning forward, paged Myak, requesting him to join him. Switching off the comm, he got to his feet and headed back to his bridge.

  Sub-Lieutenant Draz looked up from the scanner display as the Commander reentered the bridge. “Scans show no signals going in or out. I’d hazard a guess that our people have done some heavy damage to their coastal base. The Others appear to be blind and deaf.”

  “Let’s hope you’re right. The last thing we want is a prolonged campaign. I’ll take that seat now, Kolem,” he said. “Order my shuttle made ready. I’m to join Vroozoi on the Cheku within the hour.”

  “Yes, sir,” said Kolem, hurriedly standing up and moving to one side.

  “Message decoded, sir. It’s for our resident Leskas,” said the communications officer.

  “What?” Raguul swung round to face him.

  “It’s from the Sirroki’s telepath, Kusac Alda, to our Leska pair.”

  “You said that,” said Raguul testily. “What’s it say?”

  “It’s security coded, sir,” the comm officer said apologetically.

  “Then pass it on, and tell them I expect an explanation,” said Raguul, pressing his hand to his stomach as a stab of pain hit him. He grimaced as he kneaded his gut to relieve the pressure. He just knew this mission was going to be messy. Some people had weather-wise joints. He had a trouble-predicting gut.

  “Message incoming from Shola, sir,” called out the secondary comm officer.

  Raguul stifled a groan. This was all he needed. “I’ll take it on the main screen. Patch it through.”

  The image of Chief Commander Chuz of the Sholan High Command replaced the view of KX 1311.

  “Commander Raguul,” he said, ears flicking in acknowledgment. “You’ve located the Others.”

  “Yes, Chief Commander Chuz. We’ve located some of them at least. Seems they were using this planet as a hospital and R & R base. They call themselves Valtegans. I’ll be able to tell you more when we’re in contact with our people on the surface.”

  “I want information from these Valtegans as soon as possible, Raguul; so does Alien Relations. I’ve put you in charge of interrogating all prisoners. I want to know as a matter of urgency why they destroyed our colony worlds. AlRel also wants information collected on this new species of natives. Get your First Contact people onto that. Send us the results of the Sirroki’s debriefing as soon as you have it; at least it’ll give us a starting point.” He stopped talking to glance briefly to one side.

  “I’ve been asked to remind you to convey the message from Konis Aldatan to Kusac Alda as soon as possible. Until we received your report regarding the Sirroki and the Others, Konis had no idea where his son was. Kusac disappeared a year ago and hasn’t been in touch since.”

  “I’ll pass the message on, Chief Commander.”

  “Good. Keep me informed of your progress.” The screen went blank.

  A glass of white liquid appeared in front of Raguul. He took it gratefully from Myak. “Thank you,” he said, downing the contents and handing the empty glass back to his adjutant. “Couldn’t you make it taste more palatable?” he asked.

  “I’m afraid not, sir. I’d have to see the dispensary about t
hat.”

  “Then do it, please. I’ve a feeling I’m going to be taking a lot of this vile brew.”

  “Rhian and Askad, our resident Leska pair, are waiting, sir,” said Myak.

  “Send them in.”

  The two telepaths came onto the bridge. One look at the set of their ears and Raguul knew their news was not good.

  “Commander, we’re here to report on the message we received from the life pod. It was from Kusac Alda, telepath on the Sirroki,” said Rhian, the female.

  Raguul nodded and waited.

  Rhian looked at Askad.

  “Well?” prompted Raguul. “One of you had better tell me!”

  “Kusac’s requested our intercession on behalf of his Leska,” said Askad.

  Raguul frowned at them, his ears flicking briefly. “His Leska, you say. As far as I’m aware, he doesn’t have a Leska. Myak, what do you know about this?”

  “We have him listed as a grade five telepath, Commander. At that basic a level of talent they don’t form Leska Links,” replied his adjutant.

  “I’m afraid he has one now, Commander,” said Askad. “His Leska isn’t a Sholan, she’s one of the people who live on the planet. A Terran.”

  Raguul closed his eyes. “His Leska is an alien?”

  “Yes, sir. He’s asked that we meet him on Keiss and…” began Rhian.

  “Keiss?”

  “What they call their world, sir. He wants us to meet him on Keiss and take charge of his Leska. He’s afraid of her being seen as a specimen for the Medics to study. Apparently she’s a healer.”

  Raguul took a deep breath and opened his eyes. “What in Vartra’s name is he trying to do?” The question was rhetorical. “We meet another telepathic species for the first time in five hundred years and he goes and forms a Leska Link to one of them without even a by your leave! They haven’t even been investigated yet! Surely even the densest cub would be aware of the diplomatic implications. I’ll have his hide on my wall for this!” he promised grimly.

  “Commander, you can’t create a Leska Link,” said Rhian. “It’s a gift from the Gods. It just happens to you, you have no power over it.”

  “He’s not responsible for forming the link, Commander,” said Askad.

  Raguul let loose a string of invectives. “Then you’d better get permission from Mentor Mnya to go down to this… Keiss… when it’s been secured!”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “See to it now. Dismissed!”

  When they’d left, he turned to Myak. “This situation has all the makings of a powder keg ready to blow up under us. What the hell is Kusac playing at? With his background he should know better!”

  “Oh, it gets better, sir,” said Myak quietly. “While Rhian and Askad were with you, contact was established with Captain Garras of the Sirroki. He’s requested an armed escort for his first officer who is under arrest for mutiny. He Challenged Kusac Alda against orders. This same male is making allegations against Kusac of mentally controlling this Terran female and forcing her to become his Leska for sexual reasons. I know, sir,” he said, seeing his Commander’s eye ridges go up. “That means Kusac and his Leska will have to face a Telepath Guild hearing.”

  “As you said, it gets better by the minute,” said Raguul testily. “The Gods know what Vroozoi will make of all this! So Kusac’s a runaway, is he? Well, at least he’s shown more spirit than most telepaths! His father’s going to create some grief for us when he learns his son’s Leska is an alien. Perhaps we’ll all be lucky and it won’t be a permanent link. She isn’t a Sholan, after all.”

  “If he claims she’s his Leska, I’d believe it, sir,” said Myak. “Telepaths don’t make mistakes like that, and I’ll warrant he’s no fifth grade either. May I also suggest it might be politic not to mention anything about his Leska to his father for the moment? We need to debrief the Sirroki crew, establish a liaison with these new aliens, and assess them and their telepaths before we can think about dealing with clan matters.”

  “I think that’s a very sound suggestion, Myak,,” said the Commander. “Deal with matters on a priority basis. We are on a war alert, after all. I take it I can leave the matter of his father in your capable hands?”

  Myak closed his eyes and forced his tail to stay still. “Of course, sir,” he said faintly.

  “Excuse me, Commander,” Draz interrupted. “Your shuttle is ready, sir.”

  Raguul got to his feet. “You’re coming with me, Myak. If Vroozoi has heard this transmission, I’ll need all your abilities to talk my way out of him insisting on getting involved in this.”

  “It would be extremely unfortunate if Force Commander Vroozoi were to become involved,” said Myak, following him from the bridge into the lift. “However, as you say, sir, this matter is potentially explosive. Knowing the Force Commander’s reputation, I think he’ll be more than glad to leave it to you.”

  “Let’s hope you’re right. Main landing bay,” Raguul ordered as the elevator doors closed.

  *

  Three days had passed since they’d rendezvoused with the Cheku. They had been days during which Raguul would have preferred to have denned with a spine-covered wild hog. Luckily, true to Myak’s prediction, the one problem they had avoided was the one concerning Kusac and his alien Leska.

  Raguul entered the bridge, taking over from Sub-Commander Zyan. The main wall screen showed the progress of their assault on Keiss.

  “Are the ground troops ready?”

  “Yes, sir. The drop vehicles launch in one minute, followed by the assault cruisers and destroyers,” replied Sub-Commander Chen at Tactics. “The strikers will launch last.”

  “Put the Cheku’s bridge comm on audio.”

  “Yes, sir. Switching to audio now,” said Communications.

  “I presume we have the full tactical and weapons crew on the bridge?”

  “Yes, sir,” said Chen. “My people came on duty two hours ago.”

  “Ready and waiting, sir,” said Khodi from Weapons.

  The bridge crew sat watching the main screen as the heavy troop carriers were launched. Surrounded by their attendant swarm of assault craft, they headed inexorably toward the planet’s surface. Onboard the Khalossa, Raguul felt theirs was the more difficult task: that of waiting for the outcome of the battle below. Both they and the Cheku were to remain within planetary range of Keiss, monitoring the system in case of incoming alien craft. Supporting them were the thirteen escort destroyers.

  “Trying to locate the Sirroki’s crew now, sir,” said the comm.

  Chapter 1

  “I think you’d better come and see this for yourselves,” called Davis from his concealed position at the mouth of the cave.

  Garras, sitting near the entrance, pricked his ears, turning to face the circle of daylight.

  Mito leaped to her feet and ran outside. “They’ve come!” she yelled, her voice all but drowned out by the now audible sound of high level airborne vehicles. There was a general rush to the cave mouth as everyone surged into the open to stare up at the approaching craft. Even as they watched, a group of them banked toward the Valtegan base, the faint glow of energy weapons lancing down. Plumes of smoke began to rise, accompanied by the sounds of distant explosions.

  “All right!” yelled Davies, waving his rifle in the air as a salute to the avenging craft.

  “My God, the sky’s almost black with them,” said Skinner, watching as more vehicles headed out toward Geshader and Tashkerra.

  “They certainly know where they’re going,” said Nelson. He turned to Mito. “Just what did you put in that message?”

  “The location of every strategic Valtegan unit,” she said smugly. “It seems they got the message correctly.”

  “Get under cover,” ordered Skinner. “We’re far from safe yet, this is only the beginning.” He pointed to the south where some Valtegan craft had just taken to the air. “If they see us, we’ve nowhere to hide. Believe me, within hours this planet will be crawling with Valte
gans trying to escape capture. Get moving!” he bellowed as everyone hesitated, torn between a desire to watch the forthcoming aerial battle and the need to remain hidden.

  There was a mad scramble to get back under cover and to secure a good vantage point at the mouth of the cave. Garras took advantage of the confusion to have a quiet word with Skinner, who glanced sharply at Guynor, then nodded. Casually, he went over to Anders and Hughes, drawing them aside. A few words with them and they returned to the group at the cave mouth, flanking Guynor on either side.

  Having observed the interchange, Kusac limped over to where Carrie stood on tiptoe, trying vainly to see over the heads of Jo, Edwards, and Davies.

  “I told you they would come,” he said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

  “You were right,” she said, her tone somber. “Time doesn’t stop for anyone.”

  Kusac tightened his grasp reassuringly. “You see your future up there in the skies, not Sholan war craft. I understand,” he said.

  Come, it’s safer if we move away from them, he sent, nodding in the direction of Guynor. Anders and Hughes had just taken hold of the Sholan male, placing him under close arrest.

  Now the Khalossa is here, Garras doesn’t trust Guynor’s parole. His hatred of us is so strong he may not wait for the results of my hearing or his court martial before deciding to take the law into his own hands.

  Carrie turned away from the cave mouth, moving out from under his hand.

  “I wish I had your confidence in the future,” she said, unwilling to look at him.

  Acutely aware of her growing unease and withdrawal from him over the last few days, Kusac took her by the arm, urging her farther into the cave with him. He led her past the group gathered round the Sholan transmitter, toward an empty table at the far side of the main cave, sensing as he did so her reluctance to be alone with him.

  Carrie, I think it’s time we talked.

  For a moment he felt her resist. Then, as he eased himself down with his back to the wall, she slipped onto the bench facing him. Inwardly he sighed, trying to block his annoyance over yet another of her unsubtle hints that she was a person in her own right, apart from him.