The Tornado Sojourns (4) – Chapter 16 – Rendezvous

 

The Corvette carried much more armour so the Pulsar Lasers wouldn’t be as effective even with concentrated fire and knowing the Tornado had a rear facing Plasma Cannon they were never going attack from behind so there was no surprise on the flight deck when the Corvette turned onto an attack vector that would bring them nose to nose.

 

As the distance between them shortened both vessels opened fire and every shot from the Corvette hit home hard, but the concentrated fire from the twin Pulsar Lasers seemed to have little or no effect

“This doesn’t look good” Merri said as the Taipan Corvette bore down on them maintaining their steady pattern of firing.

“She’s a touch old ship” Lyris said as another cannon blast hit home and smoke began to emanate from one of the wall panel.

Asti moved quickly to deal with the fire so missed the moment that the Corvette shuddered and appeared to move sideways, seconds before it exploded into atoms.

“Help has arrived” Ferro Scanner said proudly 

“Thank God” Merri said “But we still have work to do, Mal you take the left seat, Lyris and Zerrad check for damage”

“On our way” Lyris said

“Asti, right seat, do a roll call make sure no one is hurt”

“Consider it done” Asti retorted

“What do you want me to do?” Ferro asked

“You’d better standby for when our saviors make contact” Merri replied and almost the moment she finished speaking Malena said

“We’re being hailed”

“Right on cue” Merri said, “put it on speaker!”

“Tornado, this is Captain Monat of the Andraxian Dreadnaught Hyperion”

“Hello Hyperion, Captain Strong of the Tornado responding, Thank you for the assistance”

“I’m only sorry we cut it so close, is your vessel sound?”

“It appears to be so, yes, we’re still checking the damage though”

“Let me know if the situation changes and in the meantime follow astern of us and we’ll escort you to the rendezvous

“Thank you, Captain,” Merri said

 

Once they had fallen in line behind the Hyperion Merri left the flight deck and went down to the sickbay.

“Everything alright down here? Is Ambor ready to be transferred to the Frigate?” Merri asked

“Well she’s stable but I’m not comfortable with her travelling long spells in Hyperspace, I don’t think she’s strong enough” Terrell explained

“Then we’ll take her to Montrose where she can recover safely”

Merri suggested

“I’d be much happier with that” Terrell said

“You could go with her Ferro”

“I can’t, I have to go with Dwyn to Andraxis”

“In that case you need to tell her how you feel before you go” Terrell said

“What do you mean?” Ferro said

“He means tell Ambor that you love her before you go” Merri said “You’ll regret it if you don’t”

“How did you two know?”

“It’s wasn’t difficult, you haven’t let her out of your sight since she was shot” Merri explained

 

When they reached the rendezvous point Malena brought the Tornado to a halt above the Frigate she reported to Merri and the Captain immediately called a crew meeting in the mess room.

 

“As you all know” she began “Ambor isn’t well enough to travel back to Andraxis, so she will be convalescing with the good people of Montrose and shortly Dwyn and Ferro are transferring to the Frigate, but what most of you don’t know is that I’m going too”

“What?” they all chorused with the exception of Parse, Malena and Shiyne who she had already told.

“I’ll only be gone for six months and Malena will be acting Captain in my absence” she said

 

After all the goodbyes were said Lyris brought the engines online and with him piloting and his brother Zerrad in the co-pilot seat, he used the Tornado’s four vertical take-off jumper engines to manoeuvre the Tornado towards the Frigate.

There were two docking rings on the Tornado to facilitate transfers to and from the freighter while in space, one in the belly below the loading bay and the other was amidships above the cargo bays which was also the mooring point for shuttles or ancillary craft, such as the Tornados Spider Hawk.

He killed the engines and was using the thrusters to hold the ship steady and maneuvered into position then he landed softly and docked with the Frigate using the ships belly docking ring.

Once the docking was complete and sealed, Merri, Dwyn and Ferro climbed through the docking ring into the ship below.

 

After watching the Andraxian Frigate burn its main thruster and head into the distance Malena sighed and then took her place in the pilot’s chair and Shiyne said from the copilot’s seat

“Good to go Captain”

“Ok, set a course for Eirkos number one” Mal said

“Oh, I like the sound of that” Shiyne said

“Don’t get too used to it I’ll want my job back when Merri returns” Mal said

“I can live with that” she replied “Course locked in Captain”

So, with Malena in the left seat and co-pilot Shiyne monitoring the instruments the Tornado’s 4 Plasma Turbine Pyroclast Engines were engaged and the Tempest Class freighter headed for Eirkos as their Captain and friend headed in the opposite direction.

 

When they got back in the Eikon Cluster proper, the Skeet Brothers took off in the Spider Hawk from the upper docking ring bound for Eikon Major where they would collect all their personal belongings from their rooms and settle their accounts while the Tornado headed for Eirkos to be reunited with their other crewmates who had spent their holiday at the agrarian settlement of Montrose, and although they were looking forward to seeing them again, they were dreading revealing the extent of the damage the Tornado had sustained to their engineers Pulsat and Vanzyl.  

 

After engaging the Tornado’s four vertical take-off jumper engines the Tempest class freighter landed softly on the apron at Cranack and when the freighters ramp lowered the Tornado’s APMTV, (All Purpose Multi Terrain Vehicle), nicknamed the “Stroller”, followed on foot by Asti,

The name Stroller was an ironic one because when Shiyne or Merri were behind the wheel it did anything but stroll, the moment it came to a halt Asti paused before remotely closing the ramp and then climbed aboard, and as the Stroller pulled away

Malena looked long and hard at the blackened scars on the Tornado and said

“Let’s go and give Pulsat and Vanzyl the bad news”

The Tornado Sojourns (4) – Chapter 15 – Unwanted Attention

 

“Tower this is the Tempest Class Freighter Tornado requesting permission to depart” Zerrad said

“Stand by Tornado” a voice responded and then after what seemed like an age they added “You are cleared to go, please follow vector 90 to outer marker, good luck”

With the engines warmed up and clearance to depart, and with Lyris piloting and his brother Zerrad in the co-pilot seat and Asti Alegionaris looking on, the Tornado’s four vertical take-off jumper engines were engaged, and the Tempest class freighter lifted off.

 

The moment the Tornado left Eikon Majors atmosphere Parse Sacrod and Shiyne entered Pod 4 to release Captain Merionwen Strong, her cousin Dwynwen, Sciberran Healer Terrell Vorton and the two Andraxian agents one of whom had received a Pulsar strike on her hip and it was Terrell who was the first to speak.

“Parse get this girl to the sick bay immediately, we haven’t a moment to lose”

“I thought she was going to be ok” Malena said

“There have been complications” Merri said “Ferro needs to give her some blood”

“Ok I’ll come and assist” Malena offered

 

While the Tornado made steady progress towards their rendezvous safe in the hands of the Skeets, and Terrell and Mal dealt with the medical emergency, the rest of the crew went to the mess.

“What I don’t understand is why they didn’t kill me when they had a chance” Merri said “if they really don’t want you to get to Andraxis”

“Because they need the evidence” Dwyn replied “I know that they searched my rooms for it and I’d bet money that they searched you pretty thoroughly”

“So where is it?” Merri asked

“The data tablets are in the heal of my boot” Dwyn said and laughed

“So, they need to stop you reaching Andraxis and destroy the evidence” Merri said

Andraxis was two systems away from the Cluster in the Messengis System and the Andraxian’s were an ancient Culture and considered themselves to be the moral guardians of the known universe and the Tornado was heading for a rendezvous with an Andraxian Frigate which would take Dwyn and the evidence all the way to Andraxis via two Hypergates.

“Well the sooner we get you aboard the Frigate the better” Merri said but without enthusiasm.

 

The Tornado was not a slow vessel by any means, but the rendezvous point was a 25-hour journey at least even with the Plasma Turbine Pyroclast Engines working at maximum capacity.

But everyone aboard used the time wisely, Terrell had finished the operation on Ambor and was tending to her and a weakened Ferro in the sickbay with Shiyne to keep him company.

On the flight desk, the Skeets, Malena and Asti took it in turns in the pilot’s chair, and while Dwyn kept up the supply of coffee in the mess Merri and Parse monitored the engines and in the quiet hours they talked.

 

Making good time the Tempest Class Freighter Tornado closed the distance between themselves and the Andraxian Frigate and were less than three hours from the rendezvous when they came under fire.

“What the hell was that?” Merri said

“Pulsar strike” Parse replied “Get to the flight deck and I’ll man the Plasma Cannon”

“Ok Beefy, but don’t start popping off until we know what we’re dealing with” she said and kissed him before she started running and as she ran she opened comms to the flight deck

“Ok people, who’s shooting at us?”

“Not sure Captain” Lyris replied “But there are four of them, one Taipan Corvette and three Krait fighters, all unmarked, all faster more manoeuvrable and more heavily armed than we are”

“I’m on my way up, try to hail the Frigate” Merri said

“We have but they’re not responding” Zerrad retorted

“Should we open fire?”

“No, I’m betting they don’t know were armed so wait until we have one in range, fore and aft, then let them have it”

“Roger that Captain” he replied

As she approached the sick bay Shiyne was just coming out.

“Any idea who they are?” she asked

“No, I can’t get a fix” she replied “they must be shielded”

“I suspect that’s because they know we have a dynamite little Vann Telepath aboard” Merri said and hugged her

“Now go and find Dwyn and bring her here, and arm yourself, the sickbay is a good place to defend should they come aboard, though I fear they’re not interested in boarding”

“Ok Merri be careful” Shiyne said and turned on her heels and ran then Merri entered the sickbay where she found Terrell and Ferro trying to stop Ambor from getting out of bed.

“What’s going on?” she barked

“Ambor wants to rise from her sickbed and shoot something” Terrell said disdainfully “And it was such pursuits that put you in that bed in the first place”

“Well she can’t” Merri stated firmly

“But...” Ambor protested

“No buts, my ship, my rules” Merri said and Ambor sank bank resignedly, so she turned her attention to Ferro Scanner

“You on the other hand needs to get up to the flight deck and contact the Frigate, they’re not responding to our hail”

“But what about Ambor?” he asked

“She’ll be fine, now go” Merri said and as he left she followed in his wake.

 

On the flight deck Ferro sent a coded message to the Andraxian Frigate and received an immediate response

“Help is on the way”

“Great I just hope it gets here in time” Merri said

The Tornado had sustained a lot of minor damage from constant strikes from the three Krait fighters but was still maintaining maximum forward momentum but that might change if they were engaged by the much more powerfully armed Taipan Corvette.

“In the meantime, let’s give them a bloody nose, kill the engines”

The Tornado was armed with the twin Pulsar Lasers at the front and a rear facing Plasma cannon which was a useful weapon and was powered by the spent Plasma, which was the waste product from the Plasma Turbine Pyroclast Engines.

It was useful because it was a very unpleasant material which normal had to be vented into space within the gravitational field of a star to dispose of it safely, but the Plasma cannon disposed of it in small bites while punching a whole through any would be attackers.

The twin Pulsar Lasers were nowhere near as powerful, but they were rapid firing and deadly accurate.

As the Tornado drifted in space, Malena was sat studying the scanners, so Merri asked

“Ok, where are they?”

“We have one heading straight down our throat and two bandits in close formation on our six” Malena said

“This is it then” Merri responded and opened the comms

“Get ready Parse, you can splash the two on our tail when I give the word”

“Ready when you are Captain”

Having had no returned fire from the Tornado the Krait Fighters got complacent and made no effort to disguise the trajectory of their approach so they were sitting ducks as a result when Merri said

“Open fire”

They took the attackers completely by surprise and the sustained targeted Pulsar Laser strike tore chunks out of the Krait attacking head on and a few seconds later it exploded into a flaming patch of debris.

Meanwhile astern of them the two fighters in formation tried to break away when they saw their comrade being taken out, but Parse had the measure of them, so he opened fire immediately, taking one fighter out with the first pulse while his wing man survived until the third, and it was all over in a matter of seconds.

There was a celebratory cheer following the three Kraits being splashed but all they had really done was to hasten the participation of the Taipan Corvette into the fray, and now they had lost the element of surprise.

The Tornado Sojourns (4) – Chapter 14 – Grounded

 

When they got back to the Tornado at the space port, after the successful rescue of Merri from the abductors at the Concord Hotel, Lyris, Zerrad, Ferro and Dwyn were waiting by the ramp and Shiyne drove straight in and Zerrad closed the ramp behind them.

As Merri decamped from the Stroller she was immediately smothered by Dwyn

“I’m so sorry”

“Don’t be silly” Merri said “it wasn’t your fault”

 

Parse carried Ambor into sickbay followed by Terrell, Merri, Dwyn and Ferro.

“Why does someone always get shot” Zerrad said

“Don’t worry she’s fine” Malena said and kissed him “And so am I”

Then she said

“Prepare for take-off, Lyris you’ve got the left seat, Zerrad co-pilot”

“We can’t” Lyris said

“Why not?” She asked

“We’ve been grounded for an inspection” Lyris said

“When?” Shiyne asked

“Within the hour” Zerrad replied

“Did they give a reason?” Mal asked

“They said they were looking for contraband” Lyris said

“Which means they’re looking for Dwynwen” Mal said

“Ok call the sickbay and get the ginger twins, the bodyguards and the Doc into pod 4, and let’s make sure we clean up any traces of them, in particular any green blood, or ginger hair”

“Terrell won’t be very happy” Shiyne said

“I’m sure you’ll be able to sooth him hon” Mal added

 

The Tornado wasn’t a huge ship as freighters go but pound for pound the Tempests had the highest freight to fuel ratio yield of their class.

The front section comprised of a sizable pressurized hold for large freight accessed via a front loading ramp, above which was the flight deck, living and sleeping quarters, mess facilities and bath rooms, at the rear was the main propulsion and amidships were the universal cargo pod bays, which allowed for a mixed cargo option, which facilitated quick inspection and loading, although sometimes pods were sealed which meant it was either very valuable or very illegal, either way Merri didn’t mind and transporting sealed cargo paid much much better.

 

But as they sat on the apron at the Rendon space port there was no cargo aboard and they were only carrying one pod.

The Tornado always flew with at least one pod but then that was because it was where they stowed their gear and where the hidden compartments could be found, or not, which was where they hid the contraband, or even fugitives when necessary. 

 

Under protest Terrell agreed to get in the pod where he tended to his patient in the cramped compartment, with Merri and Dwyn hugging each other, and Ferro holding Ambor’s hand.

 

When the ramp was lowered they were met by a small boarding party of 5 Port Prefects lead by an officious little man called Cluke and Malena and Shiyne were waiting to greet their visitor.

“Welcome aboard” Malena said offering her hand which he ignored

“We are here to search and inspect your vessel, Are you the Captain?” Cluke asked

“No, I’m the First Officer, Malena Endia” she said while Shiyne scanned him

“Where is the Captain?” 

“At the Galileo Hotel in Clarissoss, with some of the other crew” she said “We’re here on holiday”

“We have reason to believe you are carrying contraband concealed in your cargo” he said

“We’re not carrying any cargo” Mal said “We’re on holiday”

“Yet you lodged a flight plan with the Space Port Authority” he said “So where are you headed to with no cargo” 

“To Eirkos, to collect the rest of our crew who are staying in Montrose” Mal replied

“I see” he sneered, not believing a word she was saying

“Well I suggest you and your crew keep out of our way while the vessel is searched”  

 

When Cluke and the rest of his boarding party left the cargo bay Mal turned to Shiyne and said

“Well?”

“They’re definitely looking for Dwyn, and Cluke is very keen to get his hands on her as there is a large payoff at stake” Shiyne replied

“Well we had better ensure he leaves here disappointed” Malena said

 

Lyris, Zerrad, Asti and Parse had done a great job in removing any trace or either Merri, Dwynwen or Ambor Etra’s blood so the only thing they had to do was pray that they didn’t search Pod 4 too closely.

But they had a secret weapon to ensure that they didn’t in the form of Shiyne as she was a telepath.

All of the Vann were telepaths, by varying degrees, and many of them left their home world at some point to use their gifts to earn a wage.

Those at the zenith of their talents work as corporate negotiators or in the justice systems of the Legion. 

Shiyne was a Vann with mid-range capabilities and she could read most species to some extent, her skills were limited with the more sophisticated or complex brains, lesser minds were easier for her to explore.

In addition to reading minds she could also implant thoughts and the suggestions would stay in place longer with someone who was more intellectually challenged.

But she hadn’t detected anyone among the boarding party that would cause her too much of a contest.

So, she positioned herself in close proximity to Pod 4 as two of the Prefects opened the door.

Pod 4 was where they stowed all of the Tornado’s gear, and its interior was considerably shorter than a normal standard Pod because of the hidden compartment, where Merri and the others were concealed.

As the doors swung open the Vann telepath invaded the Prefects minds, simultaneously, not an easy feat, and if they had been even marginally more intelligent she would not have achieved it, but it took all of her concentration to manipulate what they were seeing into what she wanted them to see, and when they left the Pod and spoke into their comms

“All clear in the cargo pod, heading for the engine room”

Shiyne welcomed it with some relief.

 

Twenty minutes later she was back in the Cargo bay with Malena as a very angry and ungracious Cluke said

“Everything appears to be in order, that doesn’t mean I trust you or think you’re being honest with me, but for now you’re free to leave”

Then Mal and Shiyne watched them walk down the ramp and as soon as they were out of sight Mal said

“Get the ramp up before they change their minds”

“Aye Captain” Shiyne said and gave her a salute

 

When the ramp was up and sealed Shiyne asked

“Should I let them out now?”

“No let’s wait until we’ve cleared the atmosphere, just to be on the safe side, in case they come looking again, Clute didn’t seem the kind of man to give up”

“Good call” Shiyne said “But I’ll let you explain it to Merri”

 

“Flight deck!”

“Go ahead Mal” Lyris said

“We’ve got away with it” Malena said “Prepare for take-off, you’ve got the left seat, Zerrad co-pilot, you know where we’re headed”

“Ok Mal” he said and nodded to Zerrad

“Tower this is the Tempest Class Freighter Tornado requesting permission to depart” Zerrad said

“Stand by Tornado” a voice responded and then after what seemed like an age they added “You are cleared to go, please follow vector 90 to outer marker, good luck”

With the engines warmed up and clearance to depart, and with Lyris piloting and his brother Zerrad in the co-pilot seat and Asti Alegionaris looking on, the Tornado’s four vertical take-off jumper engines were engaged, and the Tempest class freighter lifted off.

The Tornado Sojourns (4) – Chapter 13 – Rescue Mission

 

Unfortunately, the low numbers were nearest the lift, so they had to trundle the laundry cart some distance before they reached room 34 and Malena was relieved when they got there, but that was only half the job, she would have two in the trolley for the return journey.

She stopped the trolley and whispered to Shiyne

“Is it still all clear?”

And a moment later Shiyne’s muffled voice replied

“Yes, all clear”

So, using a tool Lyris had given her, she punched out the lock and the door flew open.

A few moments later she had pushed the trolley into the room safely away from prying eyes.

“We’re in” Malena said and closed the door as Shiyne sprang out from her hiding place from beneath the bedsheets, then they both drew their weapons, Shiyne checked the bathroom and then they went deeper into the room, but the sitting room was empty, so they proceeded into the bedroom and found Merri laying bound and gagged on the bed, in a state of agitation.

“It’s ok Merri we’ll soon have you out of here” Mal said and quickly loosened her gag

“What’s happened, where am I?” she asked

“You were abducted” Shiyne replied as she began untying her feet

“Why? I’m on holiday” she retorted indignantly

“It wasn’t you they were after” Mal replied and freed her hands

“That should make me feel better, but it doesn’t” Merri snapped but then the penny dropped

“Oh God is Dwyn ok?”

“Yes, she’s fine, we’ve got her on the Tornado” Mal replied

“Thank God” Merri exclaimed and then the three friends hugged.

 

“Right let’s get out of here” Shiyne said and climbed into the trolley

“What are you doing in there?” Merri asked

“Its part of the plan” Mal snapped “So shut up and get in”

“Ok bossy”

It was a bit of a squeeze with two of them in the transportation and it was necessary to discard some of the laundry to accommodate them.

With them safely concealed Mal said into her comms

“Mal calling Tornadons, we have the Captain, leaving the room now”

It was much harder work pushing the Tornado’s Captain and Navigator but Mal managed, though she made slower progress, then as they were about half way to the first corner three men came around it in the other direction, and two of them they knew.  

The one in front was the tall, good looking and well-dressed abductor, named Geloc, and behind him was the little weasel of a man called Hatt, while the third man was a stranger, but they were clearly together.

They passed Malena without even a sideways glance, as she suspected they would, because no one pays attention to Melmanc’s pushing laundry trolleys.

However, when they reached the room and found the lock smashed they might view her in a different light so she tried to increase the pace, and failed, but nonetheless she was a trolley length away when all hell broke loose, as the three abductors on discovering Merri was missing began shouting and two of them charged along the corridor towards them.

“Ok, everybody out” she shouted and tipped the trolley on end so Merri and Shiyne tumbled out on to the floor.

“Hey what’s going on” Merri asked

“Bad guys chasing us, that’s what’s going on” Mal replied as she blocked the corridor with the up turned trolley.

“A bit of notice would have been nice” She retorted

“Never mind that just get to your feet and run” Mal urged then she said “Asti! Ambor! We’ve got company”

“Ok we’re on our way” Ambor replied

 

When Merri and Shiyne reached the second corner Asti and the Andraxian were in position to give them covering fire if necessary.

“Keep going, get to the lift” Ambor urged them

 

Some distance behind them was Mal, who was struggling to cover the ground, so she shape shifted back into human form, as it turned out that Melmanc’s can’t run very fast, and in her more familiar form she was able to cover the ground much quicker and but no sooner had she reached the corner when a pulsar laser burst passed uncomfortably close to her head striking the wall,

“Keep going” Asti said, and Malena ran for the safely of the lift and got there only half a minute behind Merri and Shiyne.

It the meantime Asti and Ambor had begun returning fire at two assailants one they recognized from the security footage as the weaselly looking man, Hatt, the other one was similarly dressed but was not the second man who took part in the abduction.

The second man was crouching down in a doorway, but Asti hit him three times in quick succession, arm, shoulder and neck and he slumped against the door dead.

“Ok fall back to the lift and I’ll cover you” Ambor said and Asti nodded in response but as soon as Asti made a sprint for the lift Ambor took a Pulsar strike to the hip, and let out a yell, but she managed to turn as she fell to the floor so she was still facing the weasel and was able to get off two shots before Hatt was able to fire again, and they struck him square in the chest, and with the power of the double strike he was thrown backwards, his face contorted in agony, and his second shot hit the ceiling, but he was dead before he hit the floor.

On hearing Ambor yelp in pain Asti halted her retreat and went back to help her, and Mal left Merri in the lift to do the same   

Merri had also stepped forward and was watching intently as Mal and Asti got the stricken Ambor to her feet.

But just as she began to take another step she felt someone grab her arm.

“Oh no you don’t” Geloc said and Merri turned to face him and the realization that he was the abductor spread across her brain and she hit him with a knee strike to the groin, twice, in quick succession and he crumpled to the floor and writhed around in the fetal position groaning.

Meanwhile Malena and Asti were carrying Ambor towards the lift, so she looked down at her captor and said with contempt

“Have some dignity you pathetic moron”

Then Merri stepped on him, even though she didn’t need too to get back in the lift.

 

As the lift doors closed Malena opened her comms

“Malena to Stroller, Malena to Stroller”

“Receiving Mal” Parse said

“Pick us up from the basement vehicle park” she said “And tell Terrell to have his medical kit ready”

“What’s happened?” he asked, praying that nothing had happened to his beloved Merionwen  

“It’s Ambor, she has a Pulsar strike on her hip,” Malena said as she looked down at the stricken Andraxian and the large green sodden stain on her side “she losing a bit of blood, so quick as you can”

“Ok we’re on our way” Parse said “Stroller out”    

 

The Journey down to the basement parking level seemed to take an eternity but in reality, it took no time at all and when the car came to a stop and the doors opened the Stroller was just screeching to a halt.

Parse jumped down from the driver’s seat and ran towards them, resisting the temptation to hug and kiss Merri he said

“You drive Shiyne, I’ll take her” and the huge Gouveian scooped the semi-conscious Ambor up in his arms and ran with her to the Stroller.

 

When everyone was aboard the Stroller, Malena said

“Ok let’s move it” so Shiyne floored it and Terrell began attending to the wound on Ambor’s hip and she winced with pain as Terrell cut the fabric away.

“How is it?” Malena asked

“Not too bad” Terrell said “it’s a nice clean wound, but I’d prefer to get her straight to sickbay when we get aboard”

And as they sped towards the space port Merri cuddled up to Parse and said “I love you Beefy”

The Tornado Sojourns (4) – Chapter 12 – The Concord

 

Dwynwen Strong and the Tornado Crew were a discreet distance from the Concord Hotel where Merionwen was being held prisoner and exchanged ideas on the best plan to rescue her for about forty minutes before Malena and Shiyne exchanged thoughts and the former said

“Ok the plan is this”   

Malena went on to explain

“Lyris and Zerrad you take Dwynwen back to the Tornado and get the ship ready to leave, which we might need to do in a hurry”

Parse, Terrel and Ferro will go with you, Parse get the Stroller equipped, you know what we need, comms and Pulsar Lasers, the small concealable ones not the cannons, Terrel, get your medical kit just in case, and then get back here double quick, Ferro, you know what you need to do.

 

While they waited for the Stroller to arrive, Malena Endia, Shiyne, Asti Alegionaris and Ambor Etra kept the Hotel under surveillance and discussed in more detail how they were going to execute the plan.

They looked an unusual quartet, Malena in the human form of a tall slim brunette, with olive skin and hazel eyes, giving no hint of her feelings of anxiousness, the tiny figure of Shiyne who was completely bald, with cerise coloured skin and purple eyes, which were closed as she scanned the Hotel again, Asti’s slight figure, only five foot tall, with short platinum hair, ivory skin and silver eyes, who was looking about her furtively, and the assured figure of the Andraxian, Ambor, with jet black hair and the typical Andraxian opaque grey green skin which darkened or lightened depending on their mood, as she was in a heightened state of excitement she was luminescing.   

 

Apart from surveillance they also started to prepare for the rescue and the first thing they had to do was to secure a laundry trolley because Mal was going to change into a Melmanc and push the trolley with Shiyne hidden inside because no one would look twice at a Melmanc pushing a laundry trolley.

Melmanc’s were a race of Dwarfs, immensely strong with an unquenchable work ethic, and there wasn’t a Hotel in Clarissoss that didn’t employ Melmanc’s.

Malena was an Obgaron shape shifter, and in her natural Mercurial form of liquid silver glass she looked very different to the tall slim brunette human, and even more so to the Melmanc she was going to become.

As an Obgaron shape shifter she could transform at will, but she could only shift into a being she had touched.

Only the briefest moment was required and then it was in her memory banks and could be recalled when required.

She could also manipulate that memory and add or subtract from it for example in her everyday life she chose to take the form of a 27 year old human whom she met on a remote mining colony when she first entered Legion space, but she chose to be the human girl and wear clothes on that form but it wasn’t necessary and for the rescue mission she chose to simulate her clothes in case she needed to shift, it would have looked very odd indeed if the Melmanc, who were very drab dressers, was wearing her clothes.

So, the first thing Malena did when Parse pulled up in the Stroller was to go inside and remove her clothes.

 

Once the rescue party were armed they left Parse and Terrell aboard the stroller and headed for the Hotel and once safely inside they went to a quiet spot were Malena transformed.

“Ok let’s go” she said as they left their place of safety and a few moments later they had recovered the earlier acquired laundry trolley.

“What a brilliant idea” Asti said “I’m not sure even Merri would have thought of that”

“I’m sure she would” Malena said “get in Shiyne”

The Vann telepath sat in the laundry trolley completely covered by a bedsheet, apart from her cerise fingers which were gripping the edge of the trolley and the top of her head, as she peered over the edge.

“Ok get down and hide” Mal said and once she was sure Shiyne was safely hidden she pushed her towards the lift, and once she had checked that the coast was clear she pushed the trolley into the lift that Ambor had secured.

As they travelled up to the 14th floor Shiyne had emerged from beneath the bedding, closed her eyes and performed a telepathic scan.

“I’ve got her!” she exclaimed “She’s conscious”

“Is she ok?” Mal asked

“Yes, she’s confused, because she doesn’t know where she is” she said and then she laughed “And she’s angry because she’s tied up”

“But she’s ok?” Asti asked

“Yes” Shiyne assured her

“How many people are with her?” Mal asked, so Shiyne closed her eyes again and a moment later she looked at Mal with her purple eyes wide open and exclaimed, “She’s on her own”

“What?” Asti exclaimed “No guards?”

“None” she confirmed

“What about adjoining rooms?” Ambor asked so Shiyne closed her eyes once more and expanded the scope of her scan.

“Room thirty-six is empty” she said without opening her eyes and then she smiled “thirty-two is occupied but so are the couple in the bed”

“We couldn’t be that lucky, could we?” Malena said

“I’ll take all the luck we can get” Asti retorted

“Me too” agreed Shiyne

“Ok then get going before they get back” Ambor urged

 

The plan was for Malena, as a Melmanc, to push Shiyne in the trolley to room 34, as no one would give a second thought to a Melmanc moving laundry, and once there they would gain entry either by, ruse, Shiynes telepathic ability, or failing that brute force, hopefully with the abductors being absent, gaining entry would be simple.

Once inside they would get Merri into the trolley and return the way they came.

So as soon as the lift doors opened Shiyne hid under a sheet again and Malena pushed the trolley out and then along the corridor and left Ambor and Asti to secure the lift for their escape.

 

Unfortunately, the low numbers were nearest the lift, so they had to trundle the laundry cart some distance before they reached room 34 and Malena was relieved when they got there, but that was only half the job, she would have two in the trolley for the return journey.

She stopped the trolley and whispered to Shiyne

“Is it still all clear?”

And a moment later Shiyne’s muffled voice replied

“Yes, all clear”

So, using a tool Lyris had given her, she punched out the lock and the door flew open.

A few moments later she had pushed the trolley into the room safely away from prying eyes.

“We’re in” Malena said and closed the door as Shiyne sprang out from her hiding place from beneath the bedsheets, then they both drew their weapons, Shiyne checked the bathroom and then they went deeper into the room, but the sitting room was empty, so they proceeded into the bedroom and found Merri laying bound and gagged on the bed, in a state of agitation.

“It’s ok Merri we’ll soon have you out of here” Mal said and quickly loosened her gag

“What’s happened, where am I?” she asked

“You were abducted” Shiyne replied as she began untying her feet

“Why? I’m on holiday” she retorted indignantly

“It wasn’t you they were after” Mal replied and freed her hands

“That should make me feel better, but it doesn’t” Merri snapped but then the penny dropped

“Oh God is Dwyn ok?”

“Yes, she’s fine, we’ve got her on the Tornado” Mal replied

“Thank God” Merri exclaimed and then the three friends hugged.

The Tornado Sojourns (4) – Chapter 11 – Sleuthing

 

Dwynwen Strong, Parse Sacrod, Malena Endia, Vann telepath Shiyne and Andraxian agent Ambor Etra were stood in the security office of the Galileo Hotel.

And among the group, dressed in her official uniform of a blue skirt and jacket with a crisp white blouse, was head of security, Stradd of the Vann, and like Shiyne she was a Telepath, as were all of their kind, though by varying degrees, and many of them left their home world at some point to use their gifts to earn a wage.

Those at the zenith of their talents worked as corporate negotiators or in the justice systems of the Legion. 

Shiyne was a Vann with mid-range capabilities and she could read most species to some extent, her skills were limited with the more sophisticated or complex brains, lesser minds were easier for her to explore.

In addition to reading minds she could also implant thoughts and the suggestions would stay in place longer with someone who was more intellectually challenged.

Stradd’s abilities however were much lower, but for her job, it was only reading skills that were required, she couldn’t scan deeply but she knew who was telling the truth and who was lying.

Stradd was a small woman and like Shiyne and the rest of the Vann women she was completely bald, and had cerise coloured skin and purple eyes, though she was a good many years older than the Tornado’s navigator.

It was clear that the two Vann were deep in conversation though they didn’t speak, and this went on for almost ten minutes, until they broke their telepathic bond and Stradd said

“We caught the moment of the abduction on our video scanners” 

She nodded towards a large screen on the wall and everyone turned around to look.

The first image they saw was of Merionwen walking into the lift followed by two humans, one tall and one small, the small one was shabbily dressed, with weasel like features, and the other was cut from very different cloth, tall good looking and well dressed, but they were clearly together.

They reached the lift at the last possible second, just before the door closed the big man used his arm to halt the doors progress and then the two men joined her in the lift.

The next image was a bird’s eye view inside the lift and the door had just closed and the good-looking man said

“It’s Miss Strong isn’t it?”

Merionwen turned to look at him and replied

“Yes, it is, but I don’t know yo…”

While the good-looking man had her attention, the small one paralyzed her with a jab to the neck with a needle and Dwynwen gasped.

“Oh God this is all my fault”

“Nonsense Dwyn” Malena corrected her

“Are they known to you?” Parse asked

“No, they’re not” Stradd replied “But one of my people thinks they are mercenaries, he recognized one but couldn’t recall his name”   

“Mercenaries, that’s good news” Mal said

“Why is that good news?” Dwyn asked “it sounds like terrible news to me”

“It’s good because it means they are in it for the money” Parse explained

“If they wanted to kill her they would have done it and left her body in the lift” Shiyne added “I suspect they want your evidence as well, and they need her alive for that”

“Where did they go when they left the lift?” Andraxian agent Ambor Etra asked and Stradd pressed another button and some more footage appeared

“We tracked them all the way through the Hotel until they went out of this exit which leads to an alleyway” Stradd said “But I have nothing else after that I’m afraid”

“So, we have no idea where they could have gone next” Dwyn stated

“No, but if I have to hazard a guess as to where they took her, where they wouldn’t look out of place, despite their differences, then I would say they’re at the Concord” Stradd said

“We appreciate all your help” Malena said

“Yes, thank you” the others chorused and Shiyne and Stradd stood with brows touching while they shared a farewell.

Once they had left Stradd’s office they were instantly barraged with questions by the rest of the crew and Ambor said

“Ferro and I will see if we can track down any other footage, from outside the Hotel”  

 

In their shabby Hotel room, Geloc and Hatt had just finished searching Merionwen’s sedated body and were angry as they had found nothing.

They were searching for the data tablets that Dwynwen had secreted the damning evidence about Captain Bersian of the Alexandretta, two of the Science Directorate aboard, Brenhol and Ocec and the Captain of the freighter Hollander, Ca Erdd, and the corruption.

“Can we just kill her now?” Hatt, the little weasel of a man asked

“Of course, we can’t you idiot” Geloc replied 

“Stopping her reaching Andraxis is only half the job, and half the money, so No we can’t kill her”

“Half’s better than none” Hatt retorted

“Listen to me, this is the biggest score we’ve had for years I’m not going to let it slip through my fingers, so we need the tablet and then we’ll get the other half the money”

“Yes, but where is it, we searched her room and now we’ve searched her and there’s no sign”

They had bribed one of the Hotel staff to let them into Dwyn’s suite and the two of them had searched every inch, but to no avail.

“We simply wait for her to wake up and we ask her” Geloc said

“What if she won’t tell?” Hatt asked

“Then we cut chunks off her until she does” he replied

 

After updating their crew mates, they all headed for the door were Merri and her abductors were last seen but Dwynwen was stopped by Ferro and Ambor

“It looks like Stradd was right about the Concord” Ferro said

“Great let’s go and get her” Dwyn said

“Hold on, you can’t go” Ambor said

“I have to” she replied “it’s my fault”

“We are under orders to protect you” Ferro said “and protect you we will”

“Then you’ll have to come with us” Dwyn said “Because I’m going with them”

“Excellent idea” Ambor said “a bit of action at last”

 

Once outside they made their way towards the Concord Hotel with Shiyne stopping every 50 yards to scan for signs of Merri and after the tenth stop Shiyne closed her eyes and tuned her mind in and scanned the vicinity and after a few moments she smiled.

“Well?” Dwyn asked

“Yes, she’s there and she’s fine” she replied, and they all breathed a sigh of relief

“Is she awake?” Parse asked

“No, but she’s not as heavily sedated as before” Shiyne replied

“Can you pin point the room” Mal asked and Shiyne tuned her mind in again and after a few minutes she said “Got it, 14th floor room 34”

“Great let’s go get her” Parse said

“Wait a minute we need a plan, and as our chief planner is the one that needs rescuing, it’s down to Malena to take charge as the Tornados second in command”

Asti said, and Murmurs of approval went around the group

“Wait a minute I’m not a leader” Mal protested “Second in command is just an honorary title, Parse is far better qualified, or Lyris”

“Nonsense” Lyris said “I’m too hot headed”

“And I have too much at stake” Parse added

“Well ok then” Malena said reluctantly “but we need to give it some thought, before we go blundering in”

“Agreed” they chorused

The Tornado Sojourns (4) – Chapter 10 – Doppelgangers

 

Merri was lying in bed semi-conscious when Dwyn walked in carrying a coffee and she said

“You’d better drink this, you look awful”

“Thanks for that” Merri retorted “but I’ll be fine if I get some more sleep”

“I thought you and the crew were going out on hover buggies this morning” Dwyn added

“Not until later” she answered sleepily “What is the time anyway?”

“Later” Dwyn replied and after a few seconds Merri sat up in bed a look on her face like a startled rabbit.

“Oh God” Merri said with panic in her voice “I’m going to be late”

“Well only just” she said with a smile on her face

“I need to get dressed” she said panic stricken “I’m in the wrong room”

“Ok just take a breath” Dwyn suggested

“That’s all very well but what am I going to do?” she ranted and picked up her posh frock and threw it on the bed.

“Well don’t panic for a start” Dwyn suggested

“But I can’t walk back to my room wearing that, everyone will think I’m doing the walk of shame” Merri snapped

“Alright calm yourself” Dwyn said trying to control her laughter,

“Calm down? Calm down? It’s alright for you” she shouted “You’re not the one that’s going to look like a tart”

“Nor are you” Dwyn said but Merri continued her rant and then when the penny dropped

“What?”

“You can wear something of mine” Dwynwen suggested

“Really?”

“Yes really” she said “I sorted some out already, they’re on the chair”

“You mean I’ve been ranting and raving all this time for no reason?” Merri exclaimed

“That’s about the size of it” she said

“I should thump you, But I won’t” she said and hugged her instead

 

Merri dressed quickly and said

“Ok I’m off, I’ll quickly pop to my room and then join the others downstairs”

“Ok I’ll meet you down there after I’ve spoken to my minders” Dwyn replied and quickly embraced her, then Merri opened the door, and Ferro Scanner and Ambor Etra immediately sprang to their feet.

“It’s ok” Merri said “I’m the other one”

Ferro nodded and opened the door and Merionwen slipped out and then walked briskly towards the elevator.

She only had to wait for a minute or so before the door opened, and once inside she said

“Level 3”

But just before the door closed an arm halted its progress and two men joined her in the lift, both were humans, one was small and shabbily dressed, with weasel like features, and the other was cut from very different cloth, tall good looking and well dressed.

As soon as the door closed the good-looking man said

“Its Miss Strong isn’t it?”

She turned to look at him and replied

“Yes, it is, but I don’t know yo…”  

Her sentence tailed off because while “Good looking” had her attention, “Weasel” paralyzed her with a jab to the neck with a needle.

 

Once Dwynwen had finished dressing, she and her bodyguards, Ferro and Ambor left her suite and took the elevator to the ground floor and then they walked through the busy reception until she spotted the Tornado Crew laughing and joking in one corner, so she headed straight for them and said

“Hello Tornadons”

“Hi Dwyn” Parse responded, “Where’s Merri?”

“She’s not with me” Dwyn replied “She went back to your room to change ages ago”

“I’ve just come from the room and she’s not there” Parse retorted

“Well she should have been” Dwyn repeated “She must have got distracted, or….”

“Or what?” Parse asked urgently, and the rest of the group stopped their chattering, as Dwynwen turned to gesture towards Ferro Scanner and he immediately moved towards her.

“She left MY room this morning” she said but got no response, so she added “She looks like ME”

But still the penny hadn’t dropped

So Dwynwen took a deep breath and said

“She left MY room, looking like ME, so what if someone grabbed her thinking she was me?”  

“Oh God” Parse exclaimed “What are we going to do?”

“Do we know who might have done it?” Asti chipped in

“It could be anyone” Ferro admitted “Mercenaries or bounty hunters, we just don’t know”

“So, what can we do?” Lyris Skeet asked

“We can check to see if she left the hotel” he replied and left the group to consult with Ambor Etra and after a few moments Ambor rushed off.

Meanwhile Malena and Shiyne exchanged a look and discreetly stepped to one side.

“Time to switch your radar on Shiyne” Malena said, which of course meant that Shiyne should use her telepathic gift, because Shiyne was a Vann and all of the Vann were telepaths, by varying degrees, and many of them left their home world at some point to use their gifts to earn a wage.

Those at the zenith of their talents worked as corporate negotiators or in the justice systems of the Legion. 

Shiyne was a Vann with mid-range capabilities and she could read most species to some extent, her skills were limited with the more sophisticated or complex brains, lesser minds were easier for her to explore.

In addition to reading minds she could also implant thoughts and the suggestions would stay in place longer with someone who was more intellectually challenged.

But in this instance, it was her reading skills that were required.

“Just what I was thinking” she responded and closed her eyes, creased her cerise coloured brow with concentration and began scanning.

Malena and Shiyne’s discreet withdrawal hadn’t gone entirely unnoticed by Dwynwen so while Ambor was checking with security and Ferro Scanner was in communication with the Embassy she also sidled over to join Mal and the Vann and arrived just as Shiyne said

“I’m getting nothing”

“Oh God they’ve killed her” Dwyn exclaimed 

“No, it’s not that kind of nothing” Shiyne explained “it just means that she’s unconscious, probably sedated”

“Are you sure?” Dwyn asked

“She’s sure” Mal said “It’s what she does”

“So, what can we do?” she asked

“Keep trying” Shiyne replied 

“The problem is that I can’t get a fix on her because of her sedation”

“Is there anything we can do to help that?” Dwyn asked

“Yes, we can get closer” Malena said

“Good, let’s go” Dwyn said

“In which direction?” Mal asked

“What?”

“We need to know which general area she might be in” Shiyne said

“Can’t we do it by a process of elimination?”

“Sure, but it they move her while were searching I might never find her” the telepath explained

“So, it’s hopeless” Dwyn said resignedly

“Not if your Andraxian’s can tell us what direction the abductors were heading in” Malena said

“Then I can start my search there” Shiyne added

“Let’s go and talk to them then” Dwyn said and made a bee line for Ferro Scanner, who took a step back as Dwynwen and the Tornado crew bore down on him.