After leaving Eirkos they returned to base on Soman and prepared for a prolonged run around the system although it turned out they had a three day wait before departure.
And as there wasn’t too much in the way of leisure activities they got
to work on some basic maintenance, cleaning and restocking.
Pulsat and Vanzyl kept the mechanical and engineering side in top shape
as a matter of course so they decided to use their time on servicing the Spider
Hawk Fighter that Lyris had acquired after the Achrem mission, and they soon
made a startling discovery.
They had just removed the main access panel beneath the flight controls and tucked in the corner was a
leather bundle that looked like it might be a tool roll and Vanzyl uttered a
string of whirls whistles and clicks.
“I not
know” Pulsat replied to his Kesslerian friend as he picked up the bundle.
On
retrieving it he turned stiffly to address his companion, who was uttering
another string of whirls whistles and clicks.
“I do it, I
do it” Pulsat said to his Kesslerian friend, who was a more slender and sleek
form, and he had the hint of a smile about his pursed lips and Vanzyl whistled
and clicked again and Pulsat snorted.
He untied
the tapes that held the bundle together and then unrolled it and when its
contents were revealed Vanzyl uttered a soft whistle like a plaintive flute,
then he looked at his friend and whistled again.
“We show
Captain” Pulsat said and rerolled the bundle before putting it inside his
jacket.
When the
engineers got back aboard the Tornado they reported straight to Merri and after
seeing the contents of the bundle the Captain immediately called a crew meeting
in the mess room.
“So, some
interesting news” Merri said “Pulsat and Vanzyl were working on Lyris’s new toy
when they found something”
“Found
what?” Lyris asked
“Go on
Pulsat show everyone what you’ve found” the Captain said and Pulsat untied the
tapes that held the bundle together and then unrolled it and there were audible
gasps on seeing the array of jewels.
“My God”
Zerrad said “Where did they come from?”
“Who knows”
Merri said
“I do” Asti
interjected
“You do?”
Lyris asked
“Yes,
they’re from Gouveia” Asti explained
“They can’t
be” Parse said, “We would have heard, wouldn’t we?”
“You’d have
heard what?” Bagg asked
“That the
Gouveian Crown Jewels had been stolen” Asti said
“The Crown
Jewels?” Merri exclaimed
“So that
was what the Commander was so desperate to find, that’s why he was searching
for Kurla, because he must have perpetrated the theft” Shiyne said
“But why?”
Terrell asked, “He couldn’t possibly hope to sell them”
“Maybe that
wasn’t the intention” Malena mused
“Oh God we
must return them immediately” Asti said, “Before they are missed”
“What do
you mean, before they are missed?” Merri asked
“The Jewels
go on public display for one month every 10 years starting on the anniversary of Legion
Foundation Day” Parse said, “That’s in three months’ time”
“But there
must be copies” Bagg suggested
“There are”
Asti said, “But Millions of people queue up to view the Jewels, if it becomes
known that the real jewels are not there it could cause a scandal that might
bring down the house of Alegionaris”
“He must
have been acting on behalf of a rival House then” Shiyne suggested
“That seems
the most likely answer” Asti agreed
“I’m no fan
of the Legion” Lyris said “but we have no choice but to get them to Commander
Salmin as soon as possible”
“Agreed”
Merri said, “Does everyone agree?”
“Agreed”
the crew echoed
“Ok then,
Shiyne stash the jewels in the Priest Hole, Malena set course for Eikon Minor”
Merri said “Pulsat, Vanzyl get the Spider Hawk ready to fly we leave within the
hour”
So, with
everything hurriedly stowed away the Tornado lifted off for the two-day round trip
to the small Legion Garrison on Eikon Minor where they would meet with the
Commander and hopefully make his day.
However,
they only got half way when the Tornado had a communication from their employer
on Soman.
“Oshwin
Lemik calling Captain Strong”
“Strong
here, what can I do for you boss” Merri responded
“Hi Merri, I thought you might like to know someone has been asking questions about you” Oshwin said “And they’re spending money while they do it”
“Who’s asking?”
Merri asked
“A couple
of Ghambran’s” he replied, “Are they friends of yours?”
“Did they
arrive in a Scorpion?” she asked
“Yes, they
did”
“Then no
they are most definitely not friends” she said
“OK, so I
assume you won’t be looking for a reunion” Oshwin surmised
“That’s for
sure” she replied
“What would
you like me to do?” He asked
“Just give
them the run around for now” Merri said
“Will do”
“Thanks
boss” she said, “I’ll be in touch”
As soon as
she signed off Merri immediately called another crew meeting in the mess room.
“I’m afraid
I have some bad news” Merri said “the Ghambran’s are back”
“So soon?”
Lyris asked
“I’m afraid
so, they’re on Soman now” the Captain said
“So, what
do we do?” Malena asked
“Good
question” Lyris asked “Do we Move on or tackle the threat?”
“The
Ghambran’s have arrived in the system much sooner than we anticipated so we
have another choice to make” Merri said.
They went
around the room in turn and everyone expressed a different reason for staying
in the Eikon cluster, nobody wanted to leave and then Vanzyl began to click and
whirl which were clearly directed at Pulsat
“Ok I
speak” he said and more clicks and whirls followed
“I tell, I
tell” Pulsat retorted and then explained
“We very
much like Montrose”
Then more
whistles and clicks
“We very
much like small humans” Pulsat said “We stay”
“Well if we
want to stay here then we need to get rid of the Ghambran’s once and for all?”
Merri said
“Do you
mean kill them?” Bagg asked
“No of
course not” she replied
“Good
because I couldn’t be a party to that” the Visitor said
“Don’t
worry Brother what I have in mind for them is far worse than death” Merri said
enigmatically
“So, what’s
the plan?” Lyris asked
“Subtlety
as usual” Merri said, “With a liberal helping of cunning”
“Let’s hear
it then” Malena said
“We use the
Legion to get rid of the Ghambran’s for us, once and for all” Merri said and
when she had their undivided attention she gave them her plan in detail.
The plan
was a simple one, which involved using the recently acquired Spider Hawk
Fighter, in which Merri, Lyris, Parse, Shiyne and Malena would fly to Soman and
land a safe distance away from the Ghambran’s Scorpion Cruiser, the Ghambran’s
wouldn’t think twice if they saw the Spider Hawk, so once on Soman they would
stealthily board the target vessel and secrete the stolen Gouveian Crown Jewels
aboard the Scorpion, then they would depart with equal stealth and take off
again.
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