Star Crusades Nexus: Book 03 - Heroes of Helios (29 page)

General Rivers’ face seemed to almost instantly change color at this information. Although not a politician, he was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and any matter relating to security was his area of importance. Any decisions made regarding the military situation should have included him. He didn’t have time to speak though before Ayndir and T’Kron of the T’Kari arrived and moved to him. T’Kron in particular looked worried and spoke so quickly his translator could barely keep up.

“What the hell is going on?” demanded the Senator when he realized they had completely ignored him.

Ayndir continued walking toward them until reaching the allocated place for the Alliance. The Senator almost exploded with impatience as he waited for her translator to start.

“We have news that terrorists have struck your ship’s survivors. Major Morato is missing, possibly dead. The Helions are about to make an announcement.”

“I know!” snapped the Ambassador. “I have already spoken with the Helion officials, and I have also contacted Terra Nova for orders.”

“What?” growled General Rivers.

Admiral Anderson’s attention slipped though, and he looked out to his right where a small group of marines were doing their best to look as inconspicuous as possible. They were in the doorway and carefully positioned so that they could be inside in seconds. He looked to General Rivers who saw his look and nodded slowly.

“You expecting trouble?” asked the Admiral.

“We’ve got a ship down and terrorists on the loose. They are keeping something from us.”

He then looked at the Ambassador.

“And for some reason you have been making decisions without involving the rest of us.”

The man shrugged, turning away to speak with the two T’Kari. General Rivers pulled out his secpad, turning away from the arriving dignitaries. Senator Broby Ramir continued to speak with the two T’Kari. The General stepped nearer to the Admiral.

“I’ve been keeping a close eye on the fleet and on Major Morato. I cannot reach her, but infrequent bursts from her locator show her to be in this district, far outside of the crash site.”

Admiral Anderson looked at the map carefully.

“What is she doing there?”

“Last time we spoke, she was assisting Vigilis, the Watcher of the City. Commander Gun is on standby should she need help. Something is about to happen here, and the Ambassador has fallen hook line and sinker for it. We need to be ready.”

They both checked for their firearms before looking back at the others in the vast chamber. It was now almost a third full, and more were arriving when an alarm sounded, and five hidden blast doors instantly shut. Anderson looked to the General and nodded.

Yes, here is comes,
Rivers thought.

The door sealed shut, locking everybody inside, and blocking out the marine security detail that had been standing in the main doorway. Cloaked and half-helmed Helion security staff moved around the perimeter with their firearms resting on their shoulders. Harlan appeared at the raised platform in the center. None of them had seen him enter the chamber. He lifted his hands, and the sound of panic and confusion abated a little, though not completely. He started speaking, and most of those present reached for the translator units. General Rivers grabbed one but managed to miss the first few words. He listened for a few seconds and then turned to Admiral Anderson.

“They are declaring a State of Emergency. Zathee terrorists are attacking state buildings, and the army is being deployed. They’re expecting suicide attacks.”

A light in his secpad lit up, and it started to beep. General Rivers couldn’t remember the last time such an override message had arrived. Only the most important messages could do that, and it sent a pulse through his body as he imagined what it might be. He lifted the unit so that both he and the Admiral could read it. It was short, and left the two of them speechless. Senator Broby noticed their expressions, turning from the two T’Kari in mid-sentence.

“What is it?”

Anderson looked at General Rivers and just nodded. The Senator looked angry that the two men wouldn’t simply just give him the information on command. He took a step toward them and lifted is right hand to point.

“Well?”

Harlan was still talking, and many of those in the chamber continued to speak in the background. Anderson waited until the Ambassador was closer before explaining.

“We’ve just received a signal from the fleet. Major Morato and the others are trapped in a structure in the Zathee district.”

“The Zathee?”

He started to turn around, but Anderson placed his hand on the man’s shoulder.

“No, it is more serious. Helion state security forces are complicit in this attack. Commander Gun is waiting for our signal.”

The Senator looked at them both in a disbelieving manner. He had experienced conspiracy and betrayal back home on several occasions, but this all seemed absurd to him. He looked at Harlan and shook his head, muttering to himself. The two military men knew too well however what a risky situation they were in.

“Is that secure?” asked Anderson, glancing toward the secpad.

General Rivers smiled but so faintly it was barely discernible.

“We’re alive, that should tell us all we need to know.”

Harlan had finished, and a number of delegates from the other factions were either clapping or shouting. Senator Broby lifted a hand, and Harlan noticed him. He nodded, indicating for two of the Helion security personnel to escort him to the raised platform. General Rivers tried to step forward to block him, but Anderson held him back.

“No, watch what happens. If the message was correct, they will want our support in this revolt.”

General Rivers agreed but still wanted to intercept the Ambassador.

“The fool. If we help them, we’ll be complicit in the genocide of the Zathee.”

He’d lived through the attempted purges of the Jötnar back in Alliance territory after the War. If they hadn’t been stopped early on, the Jötnar may have revolted and thrown them back into a bloody civil war. The thought of being involved in a similar situation with a people they’d known for less than a year appalled him.

“The Helions know a war is coming, and we need every warrior we can find, including the Zathee if we’re going to survive it.”

There was a short lull, and he was forced to stay quiet until Harlan continued his speech. A few others spoke, and the background noise increased in volume. He looked back at the Admiral.

“Don’t forget they’ve already betrayed our own people. How many are they prepared to kill among us and the Zathee to achieve their ends?”

Senator Broby Ramir, now the Alliance Ambassador stood still in the center of the podium and lifted his hands to get the attention of those watching. Some stopped talking, but just as many continued to speak.

“I would like to offer my condolences to the Helions and to anyone else that has suffered at the hands of the terrorists. Many of my own citizens have been saved by the hard work of your people, and we will do whatever we must to protect ourselves from these terrorists.”

General Rivers shook his head as the Ambassador spoke. He hadn’t been privy to any of this discussion, and it was in direct contravention to their plan prior to landing on Helios.

“My own people are no strangers to these acts, and they must be dealt with quickly and decisively. I have already spoken with Harlan concerning the growing troubles here and have contacted my government to explain the local situation. I am pleased to announce we are in the final stages of offering assistance to Helios to maintain stability.”

It took almost two seconds before there was any response from the audience. Most stayed silent, but the Helion contingent clapped with great enthusiasm, and Harlan himself seemed impressed with the words.

“We have to stop this,” said General Rivers, “He’s going to commit us to this cause when we need to be getting ready to fight the real enemy. This will just sap the strength of all Helions, and put blood on our hands.”

Anderson nodded grimly.

“Yes, and that message from Major Morato indicated the Helions have murdered dozens, perhaps hundreds of our own people. There will have to be a reckoning for today. If we aren’t careful, this could turn to a full-scale war between our people and them.”

“What do you suggest?”

Rivers felt cold metal against his flank and turned his head to see a man with an edged weapon placed against his body. Three more moved around him and the Admiral, each aiming a weapon at them. Though they were Helions, they were wearing similar clothing to the humans, and it was only at this range that he even realized they were not of his own contingent. The nearest leaned in close and spoke with a thick accent that sounded rehearsed. He could see the Helion’s pale skin and thin limbs.

“Say nothing, this will be over soon.”

General Rivers looked into the alien’s eyes and knew instantly what was going to happen. His coloring and body shape reminded him of the many Helion citizens he’d seen over the last few days, but he had no idea what racial group or position he might have. He looked down and was sure he could see a box-shaped device under the Helion’s tunic.

A bomb, they are going to kill us.

One of the group cast off his tunic, revealing the brown hues of the Zathee underneath. It had been a poor attempt at a disguise, and if the marine guards had still been inside, they would have picked up on it right away. Around the man’s body were six flashing devices, and in his left hand was a control-unit with a toggle switch on the top. One of the others called out in his own tongue, the nearest shouted in English, something that was as much a surprise to General Rivers as was the intrusion.

“Freedom! Freedom for the Zathee!”

General Rivers could take no more and twisted around to slam his fist into the Helion’s face. Instinctively, the alien thrust his blade into the General’s flank, but he ignored the pain and crashed his fist into the man. He dropped back and fell to the ground, knocked out cold by the hammer blow. Anderson jumped into the fray, and in seconds, two more lay on the ground. Harlan watched with a bitter expression on his face. He turned to his guards and screamed something. For the briefest of moments, General Rivers thought the Helion leader was about to help them, even if it was just to save face. He was wrong though, and in an instant, the Helion security forces broke ranks and fanned out through the Council Chambers.

“Get down!” he barked.

Ambassador Ramir was the first to be killed when a hidden assailant pushed a blade through his back. He fell from the podium to the screams of those assembled. Gunshots erupted, and the place turned to a bloodbath as citizens, ambassadors, and security forces fought in a confused battle. Anderson and Rivers threw themselves down, a reaction that had been honed by years of battle experience. Ayndir was too slow, and she was cut down by stray gunfire before T’Kron could pull her down to safety. Anderson grabbed his sidearm and took cover behind the nearest of the low seats.

“Rivers, what the hell is going on here?”

Both took aim with their pistols, using them to pin down the nearest of the Helion guard; one of them managed a perfect headshot before ducking back down. The General grabbed his secpad and tapped it furiously.

“An assassination attempt on us. It’s pretty simple. They kill us here, and the Alliance will have to support the Helions against the rebels.”

Anderson moved to the right and past a fallen Helion. He used the cover to mask himself and took aim at another group of four guards. He fired a single shot and then examined the fallen enemy. It was one of the group that had attacked them. When he pulled his tunic away, it revealed bare skin underneath. What caught his attention was a detailed black mark, much like a tattoo on his neck.

“Animosh,” said T’Kron. He’d moved over to him, looking for signs of their aggressors. Like the Alliance officers, he also carried a sidearm and was prepared to use it.

“You’re sure?” asked Anderson.

T’Kron nodded, “That is the mark of the Animosh security forces. This was supposed to look like the Zathee.”

“Bastards!”

Anderson turned around to face General Rivers. He had seen and heard it all.

“Can you reach the fleet still?”

The General pointed the secpad to the Admiral and showed him a split screen. At the top was the angry face of the task force commander and at the bottom the face of Commander Gun.