Omega Force 3: The Enemy Within (13 page)

“
Here comes somebody,” Crusher rumbled at his place by the door. Jason rose from his seat and went to look at what his friend had seen. They’d been sitting there for a little over two hours before a boxy aircar came to a stop in front of the dwelling, hugging the road rather than descending from the sky. He didn’t bother to continue covering the family since they’d shown no inclination to do anything but cower. Thankfully, their fear had abated as the time dragged on. He didn’t like involving innocents and he detested needing to resort to scaring small children, but he was at a loss as to how to proceed without trying to get some information from Crisstof himself.

“
Go ahead and get back in the other room,” Jason said as a single male of a species Jason had seen before, but had no previous interaction with, exited the vehicle and waved the driver on. “I’ll come up behind him when he enters the room.” Without a word Crusher slipped from the entryway and went back to stand watch over the family. Jason sank back into an alcove off the main hallway and waited.

“
Hello, dear. I’ve returned,” the alien announced loudly as he entered his house and tossed his belongings on a low table near the door. “Dear?”

“
In here,” a quiet voice called from the main living area. The male turned his head at the strain he could hear in his wife’s voice, but walked towards her unconcerned. Jason slipped silently out of the alcove and followed him. He had a good look at his face as it contorted in shock and fear at seeing Crusher standing over his family with his massive arms crossed over his chest, glaring at him.

“
What is the meaning of this?!”

“
You’ll find out shortly,” Jason said as he pressed the blaster into his head behind his ear.
At least I think that’s his ear.
“How you choose to proceed after we explain will determine what happens next.”

“
Please,” the alien said with shocking calm, having fully recovered from his initial shock. “There’s no need for the threats and theatrics. I believe I’ve been expecting you, or at least my client has. I presume you’re here because of Crisstof Dalton?” Jason pulled the weapon away and circled around to face the lawyer.

“
He told you to expect us?” he asked, clearly surprised.

“
Not you specifically, but he told me to expect ... something.”

“
Explain,” Jason prodded. The lawyer coughed before continuing.

“
He said that I may get a visit from a group of mercenaries that, while well intentioned, will likely do something rash and stupid.”

“
That does sound like us, Captain,” Crusher said. One look from Jason silenced the big warrior.

“
OK, so you were expecting someone,” he said. “That doesn’t change the situation.”

“
Again,” the lawyer said in a pained voice. “We will get a lot more done if we could move past all this absurdity. Other than something as ridiculous as breaking my client out of detention, I’m prepared to help you in any way I can if it will help him. Let’s sit and talk about this as civilized beings.” Jason suddenly felt more than a little foolish standing in the lawyer’s home and waving a weapon about when he could have likely just knocked on the door and introduced himself.

“
Very well,” he said. “What is your name?”

“
Tellumn-Allute, but I go by Tellumn,” the lawyer answered with no hesitation and confirming one of the few pieces of information Jason had about the players involved in Crisstof’s case.

“
Well then, Tellumn, lead the way,” Jason gestured with his free hand. They followed him through what must have been the kitchen/dining area and into a sitting room.

“
So, Captain, was it?” Tellumn said. “What do you know of the case so far, and what help do you think you can be?”

“
All we know is what has been in the press releases,” Jason said as he sat down. “Crisstof is accused of inciting violent riots on a handful of planets that resulted in a lot of deaths.”

“
That’s essentially it, yes,” Tellumn said as he walked over to a large, framed picture. When he touched the frame the artwork dissolved and the frame revealed itself to actually be a huge touch panel interface for a computer. He began manipulating the display and bringing up images of various planets along with associated files that were stacked underneath.

“
But,” he continued, “do you understand the severity of punishment due to these incidents occurring on Tier-2 and Teir-3 worlds?” Only Doc nodded his head in the affirmative. “Do you understand the tier rating system for planets?”

“
We’re not complete rubes,” Jason said, bristling slightly. “Tier-1 worlds have advanced to the point where they have developed interstellar travel on their own and have begun to colonize other planets. Tier-2 planets, while having advanced civilizations, normally are sponsored by a Tier-1 world. Third tier worlds are only interacted with on a case-by-case basis due to the impact contact with more advanced civilizations have on the indigenous population. This usually means the Tier-3 world has an exploitable resource. Is that about right?”

“
Yes,” Tellumn answered. “In addition to the top three classifications there are also Tier-4 planets that have intelligent life, but are off-limits for any reason. The ConFed is quite serious about making sure no outside influences are at play on the lesser developed worlds, and the punishments are incremented as such.”

“
Whatever,” Crusher snorted. “You mean that the ConFed only wants one source of outside influence, the Council of Confederated Planets.”

“
Again, yes,” Tellumn said with a shrug. “But I’d be careful about saying that out loud in public here on Aracoria. Anyway, it’s for these reasons that I’ve been unable to secure Crisstof’s release prior to his actual trial despite his standing. So what is it, exactly, you think I can do for you?”

“
I’d like the chance to talk to him directly,” Jason said. He then sat back and let the lawyer mull his way through the problem and present them with options. As expected, the legal expert was fast-thinking and took off on his own without further prompting.

“
There are obvious problems with just marching you in there for a visit,” Tellumn began, talking more to himself than to his audience. “There’s no way we could simply tell them you’re a business associate. They’d tie you up in interrogations for turns and then still not let you in.” The lawyer stood up and clasped his long-fingered hands behind his back and began a back-and-forth pacing. “Clearly I’d only be able to take one of you. Most likely you?” he asked, gesturing to Jason.

“
Yes,” Jason answered.

“
Not happening,” Crusher said flatly. “You are not walking into a ConFed stronghold in the custody of a stranger by yourself, Captain.”

“
No choice, Crusher,” Jason said with finality. “If we can’t get some sort of direction from Crisstof we may as well hang it up now, we’ve run out of ideas.”

“
I’ve got it!” Tellumn exclaimed, having completely ignored the side conversation while he’d been pacing. “You’re going to be my new assistant. The simple stories are the best because they don’t require too much creative thinking on the fly. You’re a species I’ve never encountered, and I’ve seen most of the prime species within the ConFed’s sphere of influence. This will help immensely as we can pass you off as some simpleton that’s merely along to carry my things and hand me data pads.”

“
A role he’s more than qualified to play,” Crusher assured Tellumn.

“
Excellent!”

“
You know what you can go do—” Jason started to tell Crusher before Tellumn pressed on.

“
We’ll need to dress you appropriately and then first thing in the morning we’ll be on our way. Fortune is with us since the visit has been scheduled for days so we’ll not likely arouse suspicion. Tell me ... do you think you can help him?”

“
Honestly? I don’t know,” Jason admitted. “This seems to be a bit out of our league, but it also seems that we’re all he has.”

“
Too true,” Tellumn agreed. “While Steader has been helpful in his own way, I sense that he’s wanting to distance himself from his First Father’s legal troubles now that he’s in charge of Crisstof’s empire. One more question and then we can take our evening meal and retire for the night: were you able to find Captain Colleren? I know Commander Bostco was killed on Camderan-2.”

“
No,” Jason said. “Honestly, we didn’t even attempt to look. Camderan-2 was locked down and we had no way to contact her so we felt it wasn’t worth the risk.”

“
Pity. Crisstof has been more worried about her than he has his own fate I believe,” Tellumn said. “Well then, shall we?”

They all got up and followed their host to the dining area as the computer automatically reverted back to displaying works of art, this
time different than when they had walked in.

Dinner was an exceedingly uncomfortable affair.
The children looked at Crusher with varying degrees of terror any time he would move to eat, and the others fell into an awkward silence now that the rush and excitement of the initial confrontation was past. Jason would look up at catch Tellumn’s wife openly glaring at him, her fear now gone and replaced with a cold rage.
That could be a problem.

They all rushed to finish their meals so they could escape the table and go to their sleeping quarters. As Tellumn led the members of Omega Force up to the second level of the dwelling to show them the guest rooms
—of which there were only two—Jason reached out to stop him.

“
I’d like to thank you for your understanding of this situation,” he told the lawyer.

“
I’m being paid very well to represent someone I have enormous respect for,” Tellumn said tensely. “Don’t mistake my professionalism for forgiveness or acceptance of you invading my home and threatening my family.”

“
Fair enough,” Jason said in a flat voice. “Just so we’re all clear, don’t mistake our calm demeanor for passiveness or weakened resolve. It would be ...
unfortunate
... should someone in your household make a foolish decision during the course of this operation.” Tellumn stared at Jason, his eyes blinking rapidly.

“
I believe we understand each other, Captain. These are your rooms. I will wake you in the morning.”

“
What was that all about?” Doc asked once Tellumn had retreated back down the stairs.

“
Just a hunch,” Jason said. “His wife had recovered from her shock and from the looks I was getting at dinner I’m certain she has every intention of calling the authorities once we’re all asleep.”

“
Too bad I won’t be sleeping all night,” Crusher said. He then looked at Doc, “and neither will you.”

“
Me?”

“
The captain is the only mission-essential team member right now,” Crusher explained. “That means I’m taking first watch and will be waking you up in a few hours for your shift.” Doc grumbled loudly as he went into one of the guest rooms and flopped down on the bed. Jason was chuckling softly as he pulled his com unit out.

“
Kage, you awake?” he asked quietly.

“
Breathlessly awaiting word from you guys,”
Kage answered. “
How’s it going?
”

“
About like we expected.”

“
That bad?”

“
Keep scanning all of Aracoria’s law enforcement com channels,” Jason said, ignoring the barb. “One of our hosts may do something stupid and alert the authorities that we’re here. I’d like a head start if that happens.”

“
You got it, Captain
,” Kage said. “
I’ll be scanning all night. Out
.” Jason slipped the unit back into his pocket.

“
I guess that’s about as secure as we’re going to get,” he said to Crusher as he handed the big warrior the blaster he’d been carrying. “Goodnight.”

“
Goodnight, Captain.”

*****

“How does he look?” Tellumn asked the others in the room as Jason walked out dressed in a fashionable, yet modest, business suit that was currently popular on Aracoria. Fashionable though it may have been, he had to admit it looked like a dress with a poncho over it. Crusher stood stoically for a few seconds before a snort slipped out, then a giggle, and soon he had erupted into full-force laughter while actually pointing at Jason as he did.

“
He looks very striking,” Tellumn’s wife, Keetra, said forcefully. Apparently during the night Tellumn had talked to his wife as she seemed more disposed to being friendly to her “guests”.

“
More importantly, he’ll fit in,” Doc said, looking Jason over with a critical eye. Jason knew Doc would be eminently more suited for this task, but he had to talk to Crisstof himself. Doc hadn’t had a lot of direct interaction with the man and there were some subtleties of body language the highly-educated geneticist might miss.