Seers of Verde: The Legend Fulfilled: Book One (2 page)

3

“Nine days. Nice work,” Yermak Halpan said as the Tanlian ship slowed its approach to XR-309’s largest moon. The commander gripped his viewer’s console as the moon came into view.

“Hug the surface,” he barked. “I don’t want the colonists to see us.”

Rolid nodded as he piloted the raider toward the surface, getting as close as he dared.

“Locate that ship.
I’m sure they’ve launched landing parties by now
. Find out where those colonists are hiding on the planet. We may have to attack quickly, not take the time for a two prong,” he said, referring to the Tanlians’ favorite maneuver of assaulting from two directions.

The wait seemed interminable, but four hours later the Earth ship came
into view as it orbited the planet
.

“Look at the size of her!” Rolid shouted. “How many of our favorite cargo do you think she’s carrying?”

Yermak stared at the
Colonia Nueve
. It was the largest colony ship he had seen. “The ship obviously was built for transporting a great number of people and equipment,” he said. “It looks like a cargo ship, but it’s sleeker. It might be armed.”

The commander frowned. “Any movement on the surface? Any communication going on?”

“Not that I can find, Commander,” Ossor Vallon, the comm operator said. His fingers flew over his console and then tapped at his earplugs.

“I don’t like it. That’s not a good sign — silence,” Yermak said, looking at Rolid.

“Commander, I have something,” Ossor reported. “Magnify sector C3 on your viewer. A lander is coming from the planet heading toward the mother ship.”

“Excellent, we’re in time,” Yermak said, smiling. “We may just have a good hunt, yet. Can you open a channel? I want to hear what they are saying. We need to find out how far they are in to their little adventure.”

“Yes, commander.” Ossor’s fingers flew over his board, there was a loud crackle, and then voices came over the speaker system.

“Lander One requesting permission to dock. We need fuel,” the voice said.

“Fuel already?” a second agitated voice asked. “That’s only been two trips pilot. We need to move faster than that.”

“I’m sorry, Captain,” the first voice said. “The equipment is taking longer to load and unload than we expected.”

Yermak and Rolid looked at each other, smiling.

“They are still transporting to the surface, equipment, and perhaps people,” Yermak said.

“Do we go now?” Rolid asked, looking forward to an easy hunt.

“No, we need to find out where the people are,” Yermak said. “Are they on the ship or on the surface and where? We don’t want to strike the wrong target and have them warn the others.”

Rolid raised his eyebrows, but didn’t challenge his brother.

“Patience,” Yermak ordered his crew, but directed the remark toward Rolid. “If we listen and watch we will find out where the supplies are going and what kind of cargo they are hauling. That captain is impatient. They will lead us to the women. In the meantime, tell the crew to prepare for attack. I want all four scavenger flyers powered up and their crews armed and ready.”

“As you wish Commander,” Rolid said, now smiling. This would occupy the men until they were ready to attack. And from experience, he knew Yermak would not wait long now to strike.

4

The colonists were not moving fast enough for Hector. It was taking too many hours to move all the equipment into the landers and get it to the surface.

He signaled Lar Vonn. “How are the shelters coming?”

“The colonists are working hard, although a few are still a bit groggy, Captain,” Lar said.

Lar’s status had now changed. He was in charge of the activities on the planet. Hector was not to be questioned concerning ship’s business, but now they were contemporaries.

The colonists were cooperating well. Search parties had located caves that could serve as temporary shelters. The mountains would serve as formidable fortresses once they had time to shape them with their laser cutters.

Lar even had to credit Wald Bergmann. The Universal Mineral geologist had taken a party over the mountain range and found a labyrinth of caves while searching for mineral deposits. Perhaps those caves could function as mining headquarters or even human habitation.

The valley where Wald had searched did not look promising for colonizing. Its narrow, sheer mountains emptied into the river at the bottom of the meandering valley.

The security chief marveled at the success of the bio-formers. Many of Earth’s plants and animals thrived here, as well as genetic successes from some of the other colonized planets.

Even Wald’s valley teemed with deer, rodents, predators, birds, and fish. The bio-formers had not missed any opportunities to establish ecozones everywhere. Most of the zones expanded across the planet, except at the highest altitudes where the native moss still grew.

Thank the heavens most of the colonists are on the planet
, Lar thought. One more lander trip should be able to bring down the remaining colonists. But there was always more equipment.

“We’re right on my schedule, but behind on the captain’s. Typical,” he said to no one in particular. As he walked toward a group of colonists moving equipment, he noticed Taryl Bryann standing a few meters away, waiting to get his attention.

The Seer had made him nervous when they first met. He couldn’t help it. The diminutive woman was beautiful, with bright red hair and eyes so dark they reflected his image when he looked into them.

Lar was not shy around most women. He liked nothing better than to laugh and talk with them. He was quite charming and no stranger to sharing his bed.

However, Taryl was different. The quiet woman kept to herself and would interact with the rest of the crew only when necessary.

Lar did not understand her abilities. In the past few decades, many Earth colonies included Seers. They were always women, and their ability to sense emotions in others had proven valuable for colonists when dealing with humans from different cultures.

Could she read my mind?
he had wondered, but then tried to shed that thought, embarrassed.

The two had been on the same sleep/wake cycle during the voyage to Verde Grande. Lar often woke up to find Taryl glancing his way while fighting off effects of transport sleep. At other times, Taryl would be fighting the deep-sleep grogginess and find Lar gazing at her.

The security chief intrigued Taryl. When she connected with him, she saw her eyes staring back at herself. However, she felt warmth from him, not the usual fright or lust she’d felt from the others.

Lar couldn’t help but stare at those beautiful dark brown eyes. Something in them stirred his soul. He wanted to reach out and stroke her hair. The security chief enjoyed being with women, but this one had softened his heart. While on his rounds in the ship, he found himself thinking about her and made excuses to be near her when he could.

It wasn’t long before the two were often seen walking together down the halls of the ship. They often shared meals and met in the observatory late at night, looking at the stars while the ship sped toward Verde Grande.

Innocent touches led to hand holding and more intimate gestures. Lar ran his fingers through her hair and she smiled at his attention. She liked to touch his well-muscled arm while they talked.

Their good-night kisses and hugs lasted longer and longer. Parting left them both anxious to see the other as soon as they were awake. After one long good-night kiss, Taryl took Lar by the hand and led him into her quarters. The next morning was the only time the security chief was ever late for his shift.

No one had objected when Lar asked Taryl to fly with the first group to Verde Grande’s surface.

“I do not mean to bother you, Lar, but I believe we might be in danger,” Taryl said, putting her hand on his shoulder.

“What is the problem?” Lar asked, appreciating she was not mincing words.

“I believe we are being watched and listened to by others,” Taryl said, fear shining in her eyes.

Lar stared at her. The hair on the back of his neck was standing. “Go on, what you have found might be very important,” he told her.

“I was meditating alone, trying to get away from all the activity. I was having a hard time concentrating,” she said, looking at Lar.

Taryl knew “normals” did not understand that the hustle and bustle of human activity and frantic thoughts that went with those activities could upset Seers. To escape this explosion of images in their minds, they had to refocus their thoughts.

She saw Lar frowning and tried to explain. “I felt others. I believe they are watching us,” Taryl said, gesturing skyward.

“Do you mean the
Colonia Nueve
?” he asked, but feared it was something else.

“No, not from our ship,” she struggled to explain. “I can see through their eyes. I see images. The watchers can see Verde Grande and our mother ship.”

“Our scans have not picked up anything, heard no communications,” Lar said.

“They are there, Lar. They are listening to our communications. They are very interested where our people are going. And one other thing,” she said looking at Lar’s deepening frown. “They are anxious and excited.”

Lar did not argue with the Seer. What she told him was too serious. In all likelihood Tanlians were observing them, waiting for an opportunity to attack.

“Yes, they must be Tanlians. I saw a star chart with routes all leading to the planet Tantalum 2,” she blurted, startling Lar with her confirmation of his thoughts.

“Thank you, Taryl. You may have saved us, if we can act fast enough. Can you tell me more about them?”

“No,” the Seer said. “But I will concentrate on them. I will inform you of any changes.”

“Please stay close,” he said bending down to give her a hug. “We will need your assistance and besides I feel better when you stay close to me.” Lar allowed himself one more long look into her face and then went to work.

“Requesting to speak to
Colonia Nueve
Captain Hector Nandez,” he spoke into his communicator.

Hector frowned as he received the message, recognizing the danger code formality. “Yes,
Colonia Nueve
security chief?” he answered in like formality to let Lar know he recognized the code.

“The weapons are in place and everyone accounted for. Defenses are approved,” Lar said in his best formal tone.

Hector feared the worst, but continued the charade-like conversation. “Perhaps you should join me on ship and we can pick out test targets, security chief. I want to see these sonic cannons in action. I’m glad the colonists, except for a few stragglers, are all on surface and accounted for.”

Lar understood the last message — there was a large group of colonists remaining to be transported to the planet.

Sonic cannons?
he thought.
That should give the Tanlians something to ponder.

5

Second in command Rolid Halpan shouted in surprise after hearing the last transmission from the planet to the colony seeder.

“Defenses are up? One hour ago, they were fretting about their timetable. A colony has sonic cannons? I thought only new military ships carried those. They’re supposed to be experimental.”

Rolid stared at his brother who was deep in thought.

“Something has changed down there,” Yermak Halpan said, drumming his fingers on his command console and glaring at his personal screen, which was filled with the image of the green planet.

“They were in an uproar only a short time ago. What happened? Have we been scanned? If someone has broken communication silence, I will have his tongue as a trophy.”

The comm operator, Ossor Vallon, shook his head. “There have been no transmissions, Commander. I have detected no echo pings. They have not scanned us.”

“Maybe they are trying to scare us off?” Rolid said in frustration.

“They don’t know we’re here. They may suspect something or be playing a trick in case they think someone is listening,” Yermak mused. “The Earth ship should have sent an auto scout to look for us. They have not launched a defensive satellite. No, the Earthers are up to something.”

“Are the collector flyers powered? Crews armed and ready?” Yermak asked Rolid.

“Three of the four are in fly-out position, Commander,” Rolid answered. “The fourth flyer will be at full power shortly. The crew is waiting for its pilot.”

“What are you waiting for?” Yermak said, smiling at his brother. “Get to Collector One and be ready to lead the squadron to that planet.”

This time it was Rolid’s turn to smile. “A real hunt this time. We will return with our cargo bays full of their women,” he boasted.

Yermak nodded, enjoying his brother’s enthusiasm. “Do we have an accurate fix on the colonists’ location?” he asked Ossor.

“They seem to be working in two locations, commander,” the comm operator answered. “There is a great amount of activity in the smaller valley. Large equipment is moving around there.”

“Two locations, hmm,” Yermak again tapped his fingers. “The Earthers have been busy. What did the ship’s captain say in the last communication?”

“He asked the security chief to return to the ship,” Ossor said.

“Tell the collector pilots, including my brother, to be patient for a bit longer,” Yermak said, his face revealing an inspiration. “They have one more transport group left. Probably the officers, and maybe that captain. Wherever that lander goes will be the prime colony site. That’s where the women will be.”

Ossor requested permission to speak. Yermak waved for him to continue.

“Commander, why would the colonists locate to that narrow valley? It looks to have few resources.”

Yermak was silent in thought. “That narrow valley makes defending it easy. Easy to get their people to safety. We will have to strike quickly, maybe decoy their defenses to get in there.”

He turned to Ossor. “Tell the collectors to follow that lander when it leaves the mother ship. I want what’s on board and I want all the prizes we can find on the ground. It’s going to be a good hunt.” He slammed his fist into the console.