Crimson Fire (The Kurgan War Book 8) Page 4

  Cole made sure both weapons were on automatic and strode toward the nearest group of Chosen warriors, cutting them down. He could see Katin and Kobak helping a bloodied Keyl to remain on his feet while a lone Kurgan guard walked in front of them, firing his rifle.

  Cole edged back toward the shuttle shooting anything that moved. Dead and dying soldiers covered the hangar bay floor.

  The sound of a buzzsaw cutting through the air made Cole smile. Sheridan had the shuttle’s forward cannon firing on full auto. Thirty-millimeter shells, firing at a rate of a thousand rounds a minute, tore anything they hit to shreds.

  Cole dropped his rifles and ran to help the siblings carry Keyl onto the shuttle. The sole surviving guard closed and locked the door behind them.

  “Hang on tight to something,” yelled Tarina over her shoulder as she pressed a button on the console and took control of the cannon from Sheridan. With a flick of her wrist she swung the cannon over and blasted a hole through the side of the super-dreadnought’s outer hull. The hangar instantly depressurized. Anything and anyone not prepared for the sudden loss of pressure was sucked out into the cold vacuum of space.

  Cole held onto Keyl as Tarina switched on the shuttle’s engines and flew out of the opening.

  “Jumping in three-two-one,” said Wendy. Darkness consumed the ship as a jump bubble enveloped it and sped off faster than the speed of light.

  “The prince, is he all right?” asked Keyl, struggling to speak. Blood seeped onto the floor from a dozen wounds.

  “Yeah, he made it,” replied Cole, knowing the colonel was losing the fight to live.

  Sheridan knelt next to his friend. “How’s he doing?”

  Cole shook his head and gently laid the colonel’s head in Katin’s lap. “He should at least see a friendly face before he dies.”

  Katin nodded and rocked Keyl in her arms.

  “Can someone tell me what’s going on around here?” said Cole, wiping Keyl’s blood off his dress uniform with a field dressing.

  “I sure as hell can’t,” said Sheridan, unloading his rifle. “But I know two women sitting up front who know a hell of a lot more than we do.”

  Chapter 7

  Sheridan walked to the cockpit and stuck his head inside. Tarina and Wendy sat behind the ship’s controls double-checking their jump computations. “Ladies, when you get a moment, Alan and I have a ton of questions that need answering yesterday.”

  “Be with you in a couple of minutes, Michael,” replied Tarina without looking up from her workstation.

  Sheridan shook his head and took a seat in the crew compartment. Katin and Cole were busy placing Keyl’s remains in a body bag while Kobak sat with his head hung low, crying.

  “You, what’s your name?” said Sheridan to the lone Kurgan guard.

  “I’m Private Krier,” replied the soldier.

  “Okay, Krier, do you see Prince Kobak sitting there?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Your job from now on is to keep him alive. Nothing else matters, not even your own life. Do you understand me?”

  “Yes, sir. But—”

  “But nothing. Admiral Kaar wanted me here, so by default I’m the senior officer on this ship right now, and you’ll do as I say. Now go and help Captain Cole move Colonel Keyl’s body to the back of the shuttle.”

  The Kurgan soldier nodded and got to his feet to help.

  “Okay, Michael, the ship is functioning well,” said Tarina. “What would you like to know?”

  “Where’s Wendy?” he asked.

  “She’s rechecking the jump destination figures.”

  “Why? Aren’t we jumping back to space controlled by our fleet?”

  “Not by the looks of the figures inputted in the jump computer.”

  Sheridan shook his head. He was confused and growing angry. That last thing he wanted to do was lash out at his wife. Sheridan raised both hands. “Tarina, I don’t understand. Didn’t you two plot the figures for our jump?”

  “No. Colonel Keyl did.”

  “So where are we going?”

  “If the figures are right, we’re going to come out of our jump deep, and I do mean deep, inside Kurgan space.”

  “Where exactly?”

  “That’s what Wendy is verifying.”

  “Got it.”

  Cole slid down into a seat and waved at Tarina. “Long time no see.”

  “Hey, Alan, how are you doing?” asked Tarina.

  “To be blunt, I’m confused and a more than a little bit pissed that I have no idea what you two are doing here.”

  Wendy Sullivan emerged from the cockpit with a tablet in her hand. She smiled and waved at Cole as she took a seat across from him.

  “All right, now that the four of us are together, perhaps you two could let Alan and me know why you’re here, and what is going on,” said Sheridan.

  “I’m just the navigator,” said Wendy. “Snow White here was the person Admiral Sheridan contacted to get the ball rolling.”

  “Go figure,” said Cole. “Between him and Captain Killam, I’m not sure which one of them is going to get us all killed first.”

  Sheridan brushed off Cole’s quip and looked deep into his wife’s dark brown eyes. “Tarina, please start from the beginning and leave nothing out.”

  “Michael, I was contacted by your father less than ten minutes after you were told about the impending visit by Prince Kobak and his sister,” said Tarina. “I was directed to fly back to my squadron to hand over my duties. After that, Wendy and I were told to report to Captain Killam, ASAP. Killam informed us of a top secret Kurgan operation that the admiral had agreed to support. Like yourselves, Keyl was our contact on Kaar’s ship. He informed us of a recently discovered plot to kill the prince and we would be needed to fly the shuttle to and from Kaar’s flagship.”

  Cole made a T with his hands. “Time out for a second. Why you two, and why did Kaar need humans and not Kurgans at the controls of his shuttle?”

  “Keyl was afraid of a security leak and approached the admiral about using a non-Kurgan flight crew for the mission,” explained Tarina.

  “I can buy that, but if you’re the flight crew, how come we’re headed deeper into Kurgan territory and not headed home?”

  “The return jump coordinates had already been inputted into the computer when we boarded the shuttle,” said Wendy. “While we sat idle in the cockpit during the state dinner, I checked and rechecked the figures. We should have come out of our jump safe and sound near our fleet support base on Illum Prime. Instead, when I activated the jump engines, a whole new set of figures appeared on my screen.”

  “Are you telling me Keyl programmed this flight into the jump computer well ahead of time?” asked Sheridan.

  “It sure looks that way,” said Wendy.

  “See, I told you he was a Kurgan agent,” Cole said to Sheridan.

  “May I join you?” asked Katin.

  Sheridan stood. “Of course, you can, your Highness.”

  He waited for her to sit before introducing Tarina and Wendy to her. “How’s your brother holding up?”

  Katin shook her head. “He’s distraught. The thought of losing one’s grandfather and both parents in one night is too much for him to absorb right now. He’s never been good at putting on a tough façade. My brother’s a deeply emotional person.”

  “I feel for the young lad,” said Cole. “I sure as hell wouldn’t want General Kordus’ people looking for me.”

  “General Kordus is the oldest son of Chancellor Kordus who was one of my late grandfather’s most trusted political advisor,” explained Katin. “If the announcement over the ship’s speaker is to be believed, Chancellor Kordus is the person responsible for my parents’ murder and the palace coup. As my brother is the rightful heir to the Kurgan throne, the Kordus Clan won’t stop until he is dead and our bloodline severed.”

  Wendy handed Katin her tablet. “Your Highness, do these navigational figures look familiar to you?”

/>   She scanned the star map for a moment and chuckled.

  “What’s so amusing?” asked Sheridan.

  “Keyl was a genius. We’re going to the one place General Kordus would think to look,” explained Katin.

  “Which is?”

  “We are headed to a star system known on this map as Ki-9A. It is forbidden for any Kurgan to enter that system. Neither ship nor satellite may come within two light years of the system under pain of death.”

  “Why is this particular star system out of bounds?” asked Tarina.

  “Kh’aska,” replied Katin.

  Tarina shook her head. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”

  “Kh’aska is the Kurgan myth of creation. In our oldest holy books, it is written that the Kurgan people first began on a planet far from our current homeworld. Like your civilization, over the millennia the people living there evolved and developed the technology to reach out to the stars. After several centuries, a terrible war engulfed the empire, and it was only through the teachings of one man, the Lord Kurgan, that we stopped the bloodshed and began anew from the ashes. Some of the people were so horrified at what they had become they renounced war and returned back to their homeworlds. Lord Kurgan gave them his blessing and told them they could live in peace without interference for as long they wished. No Kurgan has ventured anywhere near Ki-9A in countless centuries.”

  “What about you?” asked Sheridan. “If that’s where we’re heading, aren’t you and your brother in danger of summary execution if caught?”

  “No, the Lord Kurgan decreed that he and his descendants may visit our place of birth to see if the people living there would like to rejoin the empire. However, to date, not a single Kurgan has ever ventured into that space. I guess we’re going to be the first.”

  “What about us?” said Cole. “Are we safe?”

  “You’re not Kurgan. Our laws don’t apply to you.”

  “That’s good to know.”

  Sheridan sat forward. “Your Highness, what if Kordus tracks us to this star system? I take it the rules don’t apply to him either?”

  “You are correct. But they would to any Kurgan and Chosen soldiers under his command, and they know it. The only way for Kordus to even contemplate dispatching troops into that star system would be to have the empire’s Grand Shaman to declare a Ketapar.”

  “A what?” asked Wendy.

  “A holy war,” translated Sheridan.

  “Precisely,” said Katin.

  “And what are the chances of that happening?” asked Cole.

  “Slim. The Grand Shaman of the Empire would need the unanimous blessing of the Kurgan Religious Council, and after the schism created the last time they met, it’s doubtful they would agree even to meet to discuss this highly irregular request.”

  “Can’t the emperor force the council to do as he bids?” said Wendy.

  “It would take a very powerful emperor to make the council bend to his will, and Kordus is most likely not that man,” said Katin. “For now, I think we will be safe until someone arrives to rescue us.”

  “Let’s hope someone from our side will be looking for us,” said Wendy.

  “Why?’ said Cole.

  “Because according to these calculations, we’re going to come out of our jump with less than five percent of our fuel remaining. We can land, but taking off again will be an impossibility.”

  “Wonderful.”

  Sheridan looked around. “This is Admiral Kaar’s personal shuttle. It’s bound to have food, weapons, and communications devices on it. All we need to do is send a message back to our fleet and wait for a rescue ship to arrive.”

  “What about our Kurgan private; what are we going to do with him?” asked Cole.

  “I’ll explain what is going on to stop him from committing suicide when we land,” said Katin.

  “He’d really do that?” said Tarina.

  Katin nodded. “To step foot on the birth world is among the worst crimes a Kurgan can commit. I must convince him that his duty to protect Prince Kobak from harm outweighs his religious beliefs. It won’t be easy, but I think I can get him to see things my way.”

  “How long until we come out of our jump?” asked Sheridan.

  “Eighteen hours and fifteen minutes,” replied Wendy, checking her watch.

  “Okay, everyone, enjoy the ride,” said Sheridan. “With our luck, I doubt it’s going to be peaceful when we land.”

  Katin stood and waved Krier to her side.

  “Michael, do you think General Kordus will try to find us?” asked Tarina.

  Sheridan sat back and let out a tired sigh. “He probably already is.”

  “So, it’s a race to see who finds us first, and Kordus already has a head start on our fleet,” said Cole.

  “It sure looks that way, and we can’t send a distress signal back to our fleet until we come out of our jump,” said Sheridan.

  “Let’s hope Admiral Kaar built this possibility into his plan, or we’re going to have to protect the heir to the Kurgan throne for who knows how long on a planet that may or may not be hostile to us,” said Tarina.

  Cole pulled at the collar of his dress uniform. “I’d kill for a change of clothes.”

  “You’re in luck,” said Tarina. “Captain Killam had us pack a couple duffle bags before we left. Your combat uniforms along with some liquid body armor and weapons are in there.”

  “Major, if you weren’t already married, I’d kiss you.”

  Chapter 8

  General Kordus entered his room, took a seat behind his desk, and activated his communicator. A holographic image of his father appeared in the air. The elder Kordus was corpulent with a weary look in his eyes.

  Kordus bowed his head. “Your Majesty, it is pleasing to see you looking so well.”

  “My son, it is good to see you as well. I may have the crown in my hands, but until I have undeniable proof that the Prince Regent and his son are dead, my hold on the throne is tenuous at best.”

  “What happened? I thought the operation to seize power was worked out to the last second?”

  “It was. But my spy within the emperor’s staff was unavoidably detained, so she couldn’t transmit her message that the emperor had died until almost ten minutes after the fact. In that time, the Prince Regent and his wife were alerted to my troops massing outside of the palace and fled.”

  “Perhaps they are hiding somewhere in the palace or are among the dead?”

  Kordus’ father let out a deep, wet cough. “I have a regiment of my finest soldiers combing through the royal palace as we speak. If they are still here, dead or alive, my men will find them.”

  “Yes, your Majesty.”

  “What is this I am learning of Prince Kobak’s miraculous escape from your airtight trap?”

  Kordus could hear the disappointment in his father’s voice. “Your Majesty, Prince Kobak and his sister were helped by Colonel Keyl, a government agent, and two Terran officers who had been brought on board the Kuzma at the insistence of Admiral Kaar for a state dinner.”

  The usurper spat. “Kaar owes his rank and position to the dead emperor. It’s not a surprise to hear his name connected to this treachery. I will keep a close eye on him from now on. Once the throne is mine, I’ll have a warrant for his execution signed.”

  “Father, what do you intend to do now that a pair of Terran officers have been positively identified involving themselves in the internal affairs of the Kurgan Empire?”

  “If you’re thinking of plunging the empire back into another war with Terra, you’re out of your mind. You owe your rank to my political connections and not your military prowess, which I need not remind you has yet to be tested on the field of battle.”

  General Kordus ground his teeth. “Father, now is the time to strike. The Terran fleet has grown complacent and won’t be expecting an attack.”

  The elder Kordus shook his head. “I, not you, give the orders to the military, and we will not waste the emp
ire’s dwindling resources over two Terran officers. If you had been better prepared those two Terrans would be dead along with the prince. The Terrans won’t go to war over this incident and neither will I—not when we have our own civil war to finish. I’m not sure who among your staff is giving you this bad advice, but I order you to ignore it. Better yet, have the fool killed. Promise me, my son, that you won’t do anything foolish until I have solidified my hold over the empire.”

  “Yes, Father.”

  “Now, tell me what have you done to track down the prince’s ship?”

  “According to the sensors on the Kazuma, the shuttle did not jump toward Terran space. Instead, it flew deeper into our territory.”

  “Curious. Have you been able to track it to its destination?”

  “Not yet, sir. The ship is still traveling faster-than-light. When it comes out of its jump, using the empire’s internal satellite surveillance grid, we should be able to reacquire the shuttle by its fuel signature.”

  “Then what do you plan to do?”

  “I have an infantry battle group of eight hundred highly trained Chosen warriors ready to depart at a moment’s notice to kill Prince Kobak and anyone who may have assisted in his escape.”

  “Son, don’t wait for the shuttle to reappear. Dispatch several teams of skilled trackers along its last known trajectory and have them begin hunting down the prince. If they find and kill the little bastard, then your work will be over. However, if he is too well guarded, have them keep an eye on him until your battle group can arrive to finish him off.”

  Kordus bowed. “A wise move. It will be done, your Majesty.”

  “General, keep me informed as to your progress. Each day that Kobak lives is a threat to my regime and your eventual ascent to this throne. As my oldest son, the empire is yours for the taking when I die. Don’t make me wish that your younger brother was in your place, as I can make that happen.”

  “Kobak’s days are numbered. You can count on me, your Majesty.”

  “I hope so.” The usurper’s image faded.