Alysa Sinclair was frustrated. Benton, at least, was on to her.
In the past 24 hours, the three compartments she had mined had been placed under Security seal and evacuated. There would be no leverage over Johnny Chee now, although she really needed none. Johnny, marooned on Portanus V, would have no choice but to either comply with the mission orders to bring Portanus into the Federation fold or be killed. But it galled her to be foiled like that!
No time to waste on how it happened. More important was the fact that at least one senior officer may be aware of her activities. That the officer in question had control of the ship's security forces (and, as of yesterday, the Marines) posed a major threat to her plans.
What leverage can I use on Commander Benton? she thought. That damned Kelvan is so hard to read!
Sinclair remembered something very significant, however. Generally at social events Francesca Milano, Assistant Science Officer, could often be seen seeking Benton's company. Benton always seemed nonplussed by the contact, but Sinclair figured that was typical Kelvan reserve.
It's settled, then. Ensign Milano is the best chance I have at getting at Benton. "Computer, access Francesca Milano's duty schedule for the next 48 hours. List her ten most common destinations on the ship, in order of descending probability."
A list scrolled down the screen. Day's End Lounge, Stellar Cartography, Holodeck Three, Bridge: all too conspicuous. I'll have to intercept her in a corridor somehow. "Computer, plot the most likely routes Ensign Milano would take from her quarters to these locations, and between all of these locations."
A ship's schematic appeared on the screen, with the routes outlined in red. There! Nice and anonymous!
Sinclair heard a noise behind her and turned to look. Behind her she could have sworn she saw a coyote, a medium-sized, vicious, feral dog native to the southwest of Earth's North American continent. For a moment she thought about calling Security but decided to handle it on her own. She reached into her desk and drew a phaser. When she turned, however, the dog was gone.
Jenara waited until Sinclair had left the office. It was so good to have her shapeshifting powers back! But she was out of practice. She'd waited as long as she could, absorbing impressions from Sinclair while morphed into the form of a spare uniform in Alysa's wardrobe but had become distracted by the thought of what might happen should Alysa decide to wear her! She lost her form and had to shapeshift into something else to avoid detection.
In reading Johnny's journals, and in the course of her relationship with him, Jenara had learned much about the legends of the American Southwest, about Coyote, the Trickster, whom the Navajo and their Hopi neighbors believed would be the last living thing on Earth. At first Jenara thought this form would be way too conspicuous but the split-second Alysa needed to turn and get a weapon was all Jenara needed to morph unnoticed into the floor.
A thought crossed Jenara's mind. This could be better than I thought! She shifted back into her normal form and reviewed the terminal on Alysa's desk. She found the exact location Sinclair had been looking for. She tapped her com badge. "Chee to Benton or Sitto. Security is needed at Deck 24, Section Five immediately!"
Location: Portanus V
"Personal Journal of Major Johnny Chee, SFMC: Day 284. The moment I've been fearing has finally happened. Someone managed to get to the Wizard!
"It happened last night, as we celebrated a local festival in which the eldest of a household is to share darcco, a type of bread, with the youngest. Vinzi, of course, shared a slice of the bread with Tri. Within moments Tri was dead and Vinzi critically ill. I interrogated the cook and found that he'd been bribed to empty a vial of poison into the bread mix. I hope he managed to spend his thirty pieces of silver before I had him shot. During the interrogation I found out that he'd been an assassin on the Kelto payroll and had been a member of the Wizard's household for five years. Well, no longer.
"I don't like such harsh methods, but they are necessary. I offered amnesty to any other Kelto agents who would come forward, and none did. I can only hope that the cook was the limit of the infiltration. The Wizard is still alive, just barely. Other than Zdeev, Taya, and the Korath I've trained, I can count on no one at this point.
"Such an attack demands full retribution, and we may have to move on the Baron's forces soon."
"How is he?" Johnny asked Fralu, a Healer's Guild member who had come to attend Vinzi. While officially neutral, the Healer's Guild was the guild that had originally educated Vinzi, whose status as Wizard was predicated upon his being the only one with knowledge of the secrets of all the guilds. As such, the Healers had a personal loyalty toward Vinzi even though their official position was neutral.
"I'm afraid he may not last. The poison he ingested was very powerful. It's nothing less than a miracle that he's lived this long," Fralu replied.
"How long does he have?"
"He'll be dead by nightfall. As his bodyguard and majordomo you must get his affairs in order."
With that, Johnny left Fralu and went into the Wizard's chambers.
He'd never been into this part of the Wizard's household before. There were more books here, private books the Wizard had never revealed to others. Johnny recognized the titles as advanced science texts from before the Day of the Demons. There was more to this guy than anyone imagined!
"Attend me, Johnny," the Wizard bade. Johnny went to Vinzi's pallet.
"What can I do for you?"
"Send for Fralu, Zdeev, Taya, and two others not of the Korath. I need to make a statement."
Eight, counting myself, Vinzi, and the Unknown. He's making his final statement!
Johnny rushed out into the corridor and sent for the Healer and Taya and Zdeev, and two visiting members of the Weaver's Guild.
After they were assembled, Vinzi summoned the last of his strength and spoke.
"My people, I thank you for your service. I have no heir, and have not been able to pass on my knowledge as well as I would have preferred. Fortunately, the Unknown has seen fit to send someone among us whose knowledge surpasses any Wizard in known memory. It is only appropriate that I leave the office to the foreigner Johnny, along with my entire household. Let it be known that he is to be obeyed as I have been obeyed! Johnny, come forth!"
Johnny stepped forward and knelt by Vinzi's pallet. Vinzi placed an amulet around Johnny's neck. "This is your badge of office, Johnny. Wear it with honor! Avenge me and set my people free!" he commanded, before he breathed his last. The Wizard, the first, and the best, man Johnny had met on Portanus V, had died.
He stood up. The others were looking to him for orders.
"All right, people, this is a difficult moment for all of us. Zdeev, Taya, you know these things better than I. Handle the necessary arrangements for his burial or whatever you do here. Zdeev, you're my second-in-command.
I'm counting on you to keep this show on the road!
"Fralu, report back to your guild and get every Healer in the city mobilized. We're going to need them very shortly. Weavers, I want you to report to your guild and tell them that the Wizard requires gauze bandages in all sizes and lengths to be supplied to the Healers' Guild. The first one to see a herald, send him my way," Johnny ordered.
"What do you have in mind?" Zdeev asked.
"Vinzi was a member of the Healer's Guild, and I am a member of the Soldier's Guild," Johnny said. Not technically true, but it works for the moment. "I intend to confront Baron Kelto and run his sorry ass out of town!"
The herald arrived, and Johnny sent word with him that he was the new Wizard and that he was ordering everyone not needed by a guild to stay in their homes. Then, he called up his troops.
"Korath, attend me! Today, we march on Kelto! Remember what you have been taught, and may the Unknown ride with you!" Johnny's personal warband sent up a cheer. The Unknown will be with them, but the Holy People are another story. I have not had time to sing since I have come here.
The troop of 192 Korath, led by Johnny, marched into the twisting streets of Flor. Johnny broke them off by platoons and dispersed them throughout the city. It did not take long for the first shots to be fired. Very few of the loud, thunderous shots of Portanan muskets, dozens of the short, staccato bursts of the bolt-action rifles Johnny's troops were equipped with. From various quarters the loud, ripping sound of one of the new Portanan
Gatling guns issued forth, as many as 800 rounds per minute ripping apart the enemy.
Johnny personally led a platoon up the main boulevard to Kelto's castle. A flying wedge of musketry was arrayed to greet him. "Platoon, disperse!" Johnny ordered. Korath troops rushed into buildings and took up sniper positions. By the time the first rank of musketry had loaded and aimed the entire platoon was in position.
"Baron Kelto, I am Johnny, Wizard of Flor! You will surrender to me, and I will spare your life for your heinous crime. If you do not surrender, you and your entire household will be destroyed! Don't make me warn you again!" Johnny yelled.
A Portanan officer gave the order for the formation to fire. Johnny ducked into an alley just as the first rounds went off. It was no match. The Korath riflemen cut the first rank and most of the second rank apart with gunfire.
The third rank broke and fell back against the palace walls. Cannon in the palace battlements began sounding off. A solid cannonball struck the side of a building and demolished it, killing the five Korath riflemen ensconced inside.
"Mortar team, commence firing!" Johnny yelled. A two-man mortar team began firing. The mortars detonated amongst the men in the battlements. The screams were agonizing, and the trails of purple blood running down the white palace walls in stark relief were too much to look at.
Johnny smelled smoke. Parts of the city were burning. Yet another reason why I hate urban combat!
A bazooka team fired, the small rocket hitting a turret on the palace and completely obliterating it. More mortars were lobbed inside the palace walls. The screams were almost deafening. Johnny drew his pistol, a remake of the Colt .45 revolver, and waded into the action.
A Portanan armed with a musket attempted to charge him with a bayonet. Johnny leveled his pistol and shot the enemy between the eyes. Another one tackled Johnny from the side, knocking the pistol out of his hand. Johnny slammed his fist into the Portanan's face repeatedly but the enemy would not yield. He felt something bite down into his leg. Johnny found the lanyard to his pistol and took it in hand. He shot the enemy soldier gnawing on his leg. Limping, he continued to move toward the palace.
More of the Korath were converging on the palace, joined by a not inconsiderable number of Kelto's men-at-arms. The tide of the battle was turning in Johnny's favor! One of his lieutenants located him and informed him that the townspeople were also rising in rebellion upon hearing of Vinzi's assassination. Supporters of Baron Kelto were being lynched and burned at the stake throughout the city.
Two more bazooka rounds ripped apart the entire southeastern corner of the palace. Those things are working better than I expected! Johnny thought to himself. Not long after that the Korath overran the palace walls. Fighting went hand-to-hand.
Johnny picked up the musket of the Portanan he'd shot and waded further into the chaos. Three more Portanans fell to his appropriated bayonet. A trumpet sounded. Two short blasts, followed by a long blast, followed by two short blasts. Kelto's surrendering!
Johnny took the small trumpet he carried for sounding orders and blew the signal to stand down. Immediately the fighting stopped. Kelto stepped forward from the fray, his once-fine attire torn and stained with purple blood and powder residue. I'll give the guy this: he leads from the front! Johnny thought.
"You are Baron Kelto?" Johnny asked.
"I am he. And of course you are the foreigner. Do you know how hard you are to kill? We've been trying for months to poison you!" Kelto answered.
"Interesting. I thought you folks just liked your hot sauce a lot!" Johnny had noticed something different about his food in the past few months. An Arizona native, he was no stranger to hot, spicy food. But some of the dishes he'd eaten recently tested even his resolve! It must have been the poison I was tasting. I wonder if it was the same formula that did in Vinzi and Tri?
"My error for thinking a poison that could affect people would also affect foreigners. I offer my surrender under any terms you care to name," Kelto said.
"By your laws I am well within my rights to execute you. But I doubt that Vinzi would desire such vengeance. You will abdicate and submit to my authority. Order your followers to do the same and turn over any and all documents in your possession. I'll make sure you get a relatively pleasant corner of the dungeon," Johnny told him.
Location: USS Virgo
Jenara rushed to the location indicated on Alysa's terminal. She couldn't risk using the transporters or her com badge on the chance that Sinclair may be monitoring them. Shifting back to the coyote form, she began running a lot faster than the humanoid shape would be capable of.
Francesca Milano was walking from her duty station to her quarters, hoping she'd bump into Benton somehow. She hadn't seen him much since Johnny disappeared and figured he must be busy with the investigation. But he can't work all the time! she thought. She was busy thinking of ways to draw Benton's attention from his work at least temporarily when someone bumped into her. She looked up and saw Lieutenant Alysa Sinclair.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Lieutenant! I..."
"Keep your mouth shut and come with me," Alysa ordered.
"What's going on?"
"I said, keep your mouth shut!" Alysa backhanded Francesca across the mouth. Francesca went down. Alysa drew her phaser and was preparing to stun Francesca when...
"Ma'am, drop the phaser now and turn around slowly!" Alysa turned around. Private Ivan Zelansky had his phaser trained on her.
Sinclair grabbed Francesca by the wrist. "Don't even think about it, Private! You're out of your league!"
"Ma'am. Drop the phaser. Now!" Zelansky upped the power setting on his hand phaser to heavy stun.
"If you don't drop your phaser, I will kill her! Do you understand me?"
"I understand that if you don't put that damn phaser down right now you are going to be in a serious world of hurt!" He tapped his com badge. "Zelansky to Lieutenant Sitto. I have a hostage situation on Deck 24. Need immediate backup!"
[Acknowledged. Backup is on its way!]
No sooner than the com circuit closed than a dog charged down the corridor and leaped up onto Sinclair's chest. The coyote brought Sinclair down to the deck, then morphed back to the form of Jenara. She looked up and recognized Zelansky.
"Good work, Private! Thanks for stalling her!"
The young Marine looked stunned. "That backup showed up fast!" Then, on his com badge: "Zelansky to Lieutenant Sitto. Situation under control. One to beam to the brig!"
Sinclair dematerialized as the beam took hold of her. At that moment, she was to deliver the command to delay detonation of the mines. Suddenly, the ship went to red alert. Engineering and Operations personnel began filling the corridors.
"Let's get to Security. I think Ms. Sinclair has a few questions she needs to answer!" Jenara said, taking charge of the situation.
"Ma'am, may I ask a personal question?" Zelansky asked.
"It depends upon how personal," Jenara said.
"Did Major Chee know you can do that?"
She laughed. "He'll find out!"
Location: Portanus V
"Personal Journal of Major Johnny Chee, SFMC: Day 365. It's now been one year since I first arrived on Portanus V, and I find myself dictator of its chief city-state.
"This is not what I wanted, or even tried to do. Overthrow Kelto, yes, but I figured either Vinzi or one of the other nobles would take control. But an assembly of the nobles and the heads of the major guilds got together and proclaimed me Dictator of Flor. Cute. Exactly what the Prime Directive was supposed to prevent!
"Of course, the Prime Directive went out the window as soon as the T'rais showed up. The records that Kelto turned over revealed that he'd been on their payroll all along. The uniformity and quality of the muskets carried by his troops only verified that connection. Portanan manufacturing is essentially 16th-century technology manufactured to 19th-century standards, thanks to their superior eyesight. These muskets, while they're still muskets, are manufactured with tolerances that would require at least 20th-century machine tools to achieve. The T'rais must have an active manufacturing facility on the planet. I recall from my time on the Virgo that the T'rais were very good at harnessing alternative energy resources, recycling, and manufacturing high-quality products quickly. If they weren't so warlike they could dominate this sector as a commercial power!
"All that aside, I'm doing my best to rule by law rather than force. I've had to execute six people since taking control of the city, far more than I feel comfortable with, but the assembly of nobles assures me that I've executed far fewer people than any leader in Flor's history! At least these people were given a jury trial according to the Pandects of Flor, their major civil legal code. The likelihood that someone innocent would be sent to the gallows has decreased dramatically!
"I've also begun negotiations with the nobles to establish an Assembly of Commoners, something the books in Vinzi's (and Kelto's) libraries say Portanus once had. At first they were afraid of losing their privilege, but when I told them that the burden of government would actually be taken somewhat off their shoulders, thus allowing them more time to peruse hunting and theater and the arts, they seemed more amenable to the idea. I guess they wanted the power without the work. Now the people will have the work and the power! The first elections take place next week. I may be a dictator, but dammit I will make sure these people have democracy at some point!!! As a concession to the nobles, I've established a succession process similar to the one the Vatican uses on Earth: from among their number they will elect a new leader in the event of my demise or resignation. I still hold out hope of rescue, although I realistically have to consider the fact I've been declared KIA.
"The sextons, however, are proving to be more difficult."
"I must protest what you're doing to our way of life!" Chief Sexton Varsh almost yelled at Johnny. "You're undermining the natural order of our society! First all this technology, then these... changes!"
"I am doing nothing to your society that you didn't once have. In your Glorious Age all men and women were equal and participated equally in government and all the trades. Everyone could read, write, and perform at least basic mathematics. All I give you is what you once had for yourselves," Johnny replied.
"And these things led to our downfall! We abandoned the natural order of society and invited the Ghann to overrun the world! And you, promoting heresy..."
"And what heresy has Johnny promoted?" Zdeev shot back. "Granted, he does not follow all the Precepts, but he is still new to our society. He follows his own gods as any foreigner would. But he has not interfered with the teaching or practice of any of our rites, nor has he attempted to proselytize anyone to his beliefs. In fact, the mimeograph machine he's helped us build has multiplied the teachings of all the sextons so that they may be distributed at practically no cost to everyone who wants them! How can you say he's working against the True Faith?" Zdeev, as Johnny's chief aide, had proven invaluable in helping to set up the new government.
I bet the village where he was clerk ran like clockwork, too! Johnny thought with approval.
"Since the institution of Johnny's sanitation reforms infant mortality has declined almost fifty percent, and the sloughing skin disease is almost unheard of inside Flor. The police force Johnny established has eliminated most forms of crime within the city walls. And the Chamber Guild has contained disease and adultery and has reduced the number of orphans on the streets!" Zdeev continued. Johnny blushed at the mention of the Chamber Guild. Essentially it amounted to legalized prostitution, although what Johnny had in mind was more akin to Risa or an ancient Japanese geisha house. But the controls on the clientele and on guild membership had managed to reduce most of the more blatant problems surrounding that particular occupation. Even so, it wasn't something covered in the typical ethics courses at Starfleet Academy.
"How is this man a threat to the faith?" Zdeev asked. "He's bringing us back to what we once were!"
"But this... abolishing slavery, of all things? How will our economy function?" Varsh protested.
"Forced labor will still be retained for prisoners. And slavery will be phased out gradually, allowing slave owners to invest their money elsewhere. The machinery we're able to build now, thanks to the better quality steel we can produce, will eliminate the need for a lot of the labor force. These people can go back to farming or mining or something else that requires a lot of labor. But it will be their own choice!" Johnny explained. "If, as Sexton Xeron said 240 years after the Day of the Demons, the Unknown is known through its reflection in people. My own people, most of them at any rate, believe the same thing, that people were created in the image of God. Either way, to abuse the image of a superior power by enslaving it is wrong and unjustifiable. Now, you can either sign off on the reforms, or you can join Kelto in the dungeon. The choice is yours!"
Varsh applied his seal to the order, which had been approved by the nobles after Johnny had told them how much money they'd save by not having to mount expeditions to capture people who had been feeding themselves but would have to be provided for as slaves.
Another presence entered the room where Johnny held court, a side office in the palace that formerly belonged to Baron Kelto. The Great Hall awaited repairs and would eventually become the meeting place for the Assemblies of Nobles and of Commoners.
Johnny needed no time to recognize the emissary before him as the emissary removed his cloak. Immediately, his guards trained their rifles on the emissary. A tall, red-skinned humanoid. The Portanans called them the demon Ghann. Johnny called them the T'rais.
"Be gone, demon!" Varsh yelled, reaching for a vial of holy water.
"Hold," Johnny said. "Powerful he may be, but he is no demon." Although what they've done to this world is plenty demonic enough!
"Who are you, and what do you want?" Johnny demanded.
The T'rais looked shocked. "You are a Human from Starfleet! What have you done with the rightful ruler of this city?"
"Your puppet, you mean? He's alive and well in my dungeon. He's been most tractable in telling us all about you. In the end, even Kelto's more honorable than the likes of you!" Johnny answered. "The people of Flor are their own rulers now, and you'd better learn to deal with them as equals!"
"How quickly you are deceived!" the T'rais answered. "Once these people were like us, like you, powerful and capable of reaching the stars. But we defeated them and showed them to be the degenerates they are!"
Johnny was electrified. The Portanans had warp drive? Certainly what I've read of their texts looked as though they were headed in that direction. Maybe that's why there's no more dilithium left; what the Portanans didn't use, the T'rais are using!
"A few nuclear weapons on a place and anyone would quickly degenerate," Johnny retorted. "But these people are not degenerates. They are a proud and honorable people. And they're making up ground rather quickly. Soon you won't be able to contain them to Flor. They'll run you off this planet and take back their own!"
"You're entirely too confident, Human! Our reinforcements are on their way. Once they arrive, you stand no chance! Surrender to us now and live!"
Reinforcements? Could that have been the heavy assault transport Bortu and I intercepted? "Not likely," Johnny responded. "I have it on good authority that your reinforcements may be some time in coming. Now, crawl back to your hole and learn not to barge into another man's house before I have my troops here teach you that lesson!" On Johnny's signal, the two troops guarding his office worked the bolts on their rifles. The T'rais left.
"Now," Johnny said, turning to Sexton Varsh, "would a heretic be able to cast out a demon?"
Varsh held his hands out, palms up: a negative gesture.
I should find that T'rais again and pay him generously! Johnny thought. "He mentioned reinforcements. Do you have any idea what he's talking about?"
"It is a legend of theirs," Varsh explained. "Supposedly they did not come to the world in enough numbers to completely wipe us out, our weapons were more advanced and more numerous in those days, so they sent for reinforcements. That was over a thousand years ago. They're still waiting! We find that a source of amusement."
Location: USS Virgo
"You do realize the amount of trouble you're in right now, Lieutenant Sinclair," Benton said flatly. "You stand accused of the murder of one Starfleet officer, attempted murder of no less than twenty Starfleet personnel and civilians, and assault on yet another officer. Not to mention the breaking-and-entering, illegal possession of explosives, and coercion charges. Whatever explanation you have, it had better be a good one!"
Sinclair, safely contained inside a force field, just glared at him. "I had my orders. I carried them out. I do not have to make any further statement on this point." She was silent after that. Benton decided not to waste any more time on Sinclair until Commander Lataro could give further advice. He left the brig.
Jenara was waiting in his office, along with Adrianna. "Is Francesca going to be okay?" she asked.
"She's shaken up, but she'll be fine. There were no injuries, although Dr. Maruu is keeping her in Sickbay for observation," Benton answered.
"Maybe you should see her. I know she'd like that. She does think the world of you, you know," Jenara told him.
Benton flushed. "Why, yes, I... er... oh, dear. I suppose Lieutenant Sitto can handle things here for a while." He informed his second-in-command that he was headed to Sickbay to check on Francesca.
Jenara walked into the brig. Sinclair glared at her. "You know I can read your thoughts. You know that you're in a hell of a lot of trouble right now. And I suppose you know I can shapeshift as well. So why don't you tell me what's going on before I either rip it from your mind or shift into a mugatu and get it the hard way?" Neither method, of course, was legal, but Jenara was hoping to at least get her to talk. No response. Disgusted, Jenara left.
Jenara returned to the Security office, where Lieutenant Sitto was now posted, his feet propped on a console. Upon seeing Jenara enter Sitto immediately sat up. "Don't mind me, Lieutenant. Just let me know where there's a spare console I can use." Sitto showed her to a free console.
Jenara ran a few calculations, then tapped her com badge. "Lt. Chee to Sgt. Barek. I'd like to speak with you, please."