After being
picked up from Achrem following a longer than expected stay in Odekka the
Tornado spent the next nine months working regular routes around the Eikon
Cluster which took them back to Achrem on a regular basis as well as allowing
them to make return visits to their favourite place in order to spend their
R&R among the simple folk of Montrose where the whole crew could relax.
They found
their safe haven of respite thanks to the Tornado’s cook, Bagg.
Apart from
being gifted in all things culinary he was first and foremost a Visitor.
Visitors
were a Christian sect who took to the stars with the first migrants to visit
new worlds, spreading the word while seeking enlightenment, and they had established
Visitor enclaves in every corner of the known universe, they even thrived in
Mehreen space and they were the least spiritual beings to ever draw breath.
The
difference between Visitors and the established Christian Church on earth was
its spontaneity, they didn’t wait until Sunday to worship, they did it wherever
and whenever it was desired and it didn’t need to happen in a church, Visitors
worshipped everywhere.
The farm in
the village of Montrose was owned by Bagg’s brother Trebreh, who was also a Visitor,
and his wife Xandra and her brother Ale who was Bagg’s boyhood friend.
The crew of
the Tornado were always made very welcome, but none more than the reptilian
engineers Pulsat and Vanzyl, who were monopolized by the village children, to
the delight of both.
Every
moment spent in the peaceful setting of Montrose was precious to them and it
was on one such restful weekend staying in Montrose that something occurred
that could lead to the preservation of the life they valued so much.
It happened
as they sat around the table in the Orchard after a fine dinner, Pulsat and
Vanzyl had been dragged off by the children, Bagg was walking by the Lake with
his brother and Xandra put down a Carafe of Abyssinian Brandy on the table
“This is
courtesy of Lyris”
“There are
advantages to hanging out in a bar run by lowlifes” Lyris said
“They can
get anything you want since Kurla took over the Blue Horizon”
“Did you
say Kurla?” Shiyne asked
“Yes, Kurla
Babic” he replied
“That was
who the Legion Commander was searching for when they boarded the Tornado”
Shiyne said
“Why?”
Zerrad asked
“I don’t
know, but they wanted him really bad” Shiyne said “and he had something they
wanted back even more”
“Well, we
have an opportunity to gain some goodwill from the Legion then” Merri said, “So
I think we should help Commander Salmin find the man he has been searching for”
“How much
good will is it going to buy us?” Lyris asked
“A lot”
Shiyne said
Two days
later they landed on Eikon Minor where there was a small Legion Garrison and met
with Commander Salmin, they already knew he was there as they got the
information from their boss Oshwin Lemik on Soman.
“Well, this
is a pleasant surprise” he said when Merri and Lyris walked into his office and
presented him with a box of Bagg’s scones.
“But I’m
sure you didn’t come all this way to bring me scones”
“No, you’re
right, but I think you will be pleased that we came”
Merri said
“I know
where Kurla Babic is” Lyris said and the Commanders demeanor changed
“Where?”
Along with
the scones they entered Commander Salmin office with some rolled up plans.
The first
was a floor plan of the Blue Horizon bar, showing entrances, exits and the
position of the bad guys, including the names of the protagonists, where
known.
The second
plan showed the local environs of the bar showing places of cover and
concealment, the positions of lookouts and surveillance cameras.
The third
and final plan showed the landing field and the roads between the field and the
bar.
“As you
know Achrem is a very mountainous planet and as you can see from the map there
are very few places near Odekka where you can land a cruiser, and none at all
where you can do it unnoticed, and the moment a Legion vessel appears the alarm
is going to be raised and your quarry will disappear, and because of the
terrain you won’t be able to land enough Legionnaires to throw a net around the
bar in time”
Lyris said
at length
“You’re
clearly no stranger to tactics, so what would your solution be?” the Commander asked
“It’s
simple really, the Tornado is a regular visitor to Odekka so no one will raise
an eyebrow when we land with your strike force on board, nor will they be
alarmed when the Stroller drives down the ramp and crosses the field to drive
up to the Blue Horizon”
Lyris said
“So, we can
make our regular stop at the bar and once inside we can establish that Kurla is
present and give you the heads up”
“And how do
I get my men to the bar unseen?”
“A small
group of Legionnaires can conceal themselves in the Stroller” Merri contributed
“And in the
meantime, your main force can cross the field on foot under the cover of
darkness, and secure the landing field on their way to the bar” Lyris continued
“And once
we have established Kurla’s presence and we hear everyone is in place my
brother Zerrad and I will leave the bar, and that would be your signal to go
in”
“Well, I
can understand now why we struggled against the Shaxson rebels”
Commander
Salmin said
“When are
you due on Achrem next?”
“Tomorrow”
Merri replied
“Tomorrow
it is then” he said, “Rendezvous on Linden, you know the place”
“I think I
can remember” Merri said
“You won’t
need to rely on memory Captain Strong” the Commander remarked “you will have
two of my officers aboard to tell you where to land”
This did
not come as a surprise to them that the Legion would install someone aboard the
Tornado, in fact it was assumed that the Commander would want someone on the
flight deck to make sure everything was on the level, so as a precaution they
left Asti and Parse in Montrose so they wouldn’t have to be hidden away in the
“priest hole” for the duration of the mission.
So, as they
left the commander with their military escort they were unconcerned.
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