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 look outs 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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