Warrior Chronicles 5: Warrior's Curse (4 page)

“Yes, sir. Your wife is breathing down my neck about this, too.”

“Do not tell her what I’m doing. If she finds out one of them is there, you won’t have enough people to protect him from her.”

“Agreed.”

Cort disconnected and turned to Bazal. “Start keeping tabs on everyone associated with the IC. Use George if you need to. I want the name of every person involved by the end of the day. And have someone bring me a clean FALCON. Also Bazal, find Corporal Faulks and send her to me. What’s in her jacket?”

Bazal opened the file and reviewed it briefly. “I have touched her. She is a devoted Marine. She lost older brothers in the Cuplan war and on Nill. She enlisted immediately after the Tapon war ended. One of her mothers is an associate judge of the financial court in Berlin. Her other mother is a school teacher there. The judge has been threatened twice by corporations that were later liquidated by her court for tax evasion and fraud.”

“Okay, send some triple-chevrons to me. I’m bumping her up and putting her on my detail.”

“That would not be prudent, Cortland. She is being groomed to command a Wolfpack company. Her officer training begins in three weeks. Perhaps you could just inform her of that today.”

“That’s even better. Put a note in her file to keep me apprised of her progress, both in Officer Corps Training and her future career.” Cort remembered how Faulks had handled both the crisis at the restaurant and himself the day before. He smiled as he added, “She’s good, and she’s not afraid to stand up to a lowly dictator.”

When he was in uniform again, Cort asked Mrs. Thorn to join him in his room. Before they could exchange greetings, Corporal Faulks arrived as well. Introductions were made and Cort asked Mrs. Thorn how her husband was doing.
 

She was clearly exhausted, but the diminutive woman managed a wan smile. “He is better. Thank you for asking. His hearing is still damaged. The nurse said he will be in bed for a while, and his recovery will be slow. Your doctors are giving him the best care, though. Thank you for protecting him.”

“I wish I could take credit, Mrs. Thorn.” Cort glanced at Faulks. “In reality, it was just his dumb luck to be opposite the blast from me. You should thank Corporal Faulks, though. It is my understanding that she bypassed me to go straight to your husband. Her actions, and those of the medics, saved his life.”

Behind Thorn’s wife, Cort saw surprise pass over the Faulks’ face. Just as quickly, he saw realization replace it. The corporal knew Cort was lying to make Mrs. Thorn feel better. The older woman turned to Faulks and took her hands.
 

Tears filled the older woman’s eyes.“Thank you so much, Corporal. He’s all I have.”

“I was doing my job, sir, but it was my pleasure.” Faulks added her own lie to Cort’s.

“Sir? Oh yes, your military custom.” Mrs. Thorn release Faulk’s hands and turned to Cort. “I see why he respects you so much. He gets so angry at the press for calling you a dictator. But you and your people care about us. Earth I mean. You are not like those men in the history books. I am proud that he was beside you yesterday.”

“I am a dictator, Mrs. Thorn. Don’t doubt that. But I try to be a good one.” Cort changed the subject. “I understand you have a relative that is married into my family.”

“Yes, but honestly, Dar Sike was nicer to us than my cousin is. He has not even called to check on Frank.”

“Frank? Your husband’s first name is Frank? He told me to just call him Thorn.”

“Yes, Frank. He hates the name though. I think I am the only person he lets use his first name, and I can only use it when it is just the two of us.”

Cort smiled at the woman.
“What is your given name, Mrs. Thorn?”

“Suze. You can call me Suze, General.”

“Suze, I am Cort. I would like you and your husband to join my family on Solitude for the duration of his recovery. He won’t be able to work for a while, so he is useless to me here. I know Kimberly would love to have another civilian woman there. I think Dalek and George would like you both.”

Cort saw Suze Thorn considering his request. He knew from Thorn’s file that they didn’t have many friends, especially since he began working for Dar. Cort had never met her cousin, but Dar had told him the man wasn’t much. Just a remora with human DNA. In any case, if Suze took his offer the cousin would be jealous beyond words.
I’m a petty man, but I can afford to be, can’t I?

“We would not want to be a burden, Gen..er, Cort.”

“I am clearly responsible for his care right now, Suze. Let me do this for you both. Besides, as Corporal Faulks will tell you, there are few things more magical than petting a dinosaur.”

Suze smiled. “Okay. Thank you, Cort.”

Cort’s gentle tone changed as he looked at the corporal. “Corporal Quinn Faulks, as of right now, you are detached from the ship. I would like you to select a squad of Marines and escort Mrs. Thorn to the surface to gather anything she needs. Then have their home on Earth secured if necessary. You will be in charge of the Thorn detail until they are settled in at Bergh Station. You have three weeks to accomplish that. At that point, you are to report to the Marine Academy for Officer Corps Training, where you will be fast tracked for a company-level command of a Wolfpack unit. Upon arrival at Solitude, you should immediately begin the pairing process to find a suitable wolf. Do you have any questions?”

“Uh,” Faulks stammered, caught off-guard by Cort’s orders. “No, sir. Thank you very much sir.”

“You stood up to me yesterday, Corporal. Or at least you tried to. Not many people are willing to take that chance. For what it’s worth, the orders were already in place. I just confirmed them. Your abilities had already been noticed by your current superiors.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you sir.”

Turning to Suze, Cort said, “I probably won’t see you or your husband before you leave for Solitude. I will see you there, though. Please convey my thanks to him, and tell him his investigation is still on schedule. If you will wait outside for Corporal Faulks, I need to have a brief word with her.”

Suze Thorn stepped forward and kissed the unmarred side of Cort’s forehead. “Thank you, Cort.”

“You’re welcome. Thank you for letting us borrow your husband.”

When Suze Thorn was gone, Cort said, “You make sure they have everything they need. I will cover it. And you find her cousin and personally inform him that Suze and her husband will be my personal guests on Solitude should they need to be reached.”

Faulks smiled when she realized what Cort meant. “Yes, sir. It will be a pleasure.”

She saluted and retreated to the door, where she paused and turned to Cort. “You are an absolute joy to work for, sir.” Then she was gone.

After reading a message from Bazal, Cort called Ceram to his room. “Doc, I’ve got to be combat-ready on Earth in three hours. How are you going to make that happen?”

Ceram clicked, “I’ve already been working on it. You are nothing if not predictable, General. I have a small backpack reservoir for you. It is filled with concentrated synthetics. We can move your port to the subclavian vein by way of your chest. You will however, need to wear a CONDOR, as your FALCON’s power supply will interfere with the reservoir.”

“Thank you. What do I need to be careful of?”

“Bombs,” the insectoid replied.
 

Cort laughed, “You and I are going to get along just fine, Ceram. Are your broodmates as insubordinate as you are?”

“Two of them are. The rest are more like Supreme H’uum.”

“I would like to meet them someday, Ceram. Now let’s get me ready for combat.”

--

Admiral Jade “JJ” Jones was in her office when Rear Admiral Kate Williams walked in unannounced. “I have our volunteers, JJ.”

“Good. Where are they now?”

“They are prepping for surgery. They should be ready to leave for Earth in four hours.”

Jade looked at her clock. “That’s cutting it close, but I’m glad you got it done. Cort will appreciate it.”

Kate looked at JJ. For Kate, intelligence was a game. A deadly one, but a game nonetheless. Timing could make or break an operation, and for this one she felt rushed. Especially with Bazal working on the bombing. “I do not like it, JJ. We could have let one more group of people be taken and been more ready next time.”

JJ appreciated Kate Williams. The head of intelligence was thorough and methodical. She missed very little and seldom made mistakes. But these traits also made her somewhat heartless. “Would you feel the same if it was your mother who was being taken, Kate?”

JJ saw her point hit home. Kate was almost angry when she said, “I understand that, sir. I am just saying that I would have liked to have had more time.”

“General Addison is the only one of us who seems to have the time he wants, Kate. Can I offer you some advice?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“No, because lives depend on us.” JJ waited for what she said to sink in, then added, “You are the best at what you do. And considering that your second is a telepath, that’s saying something. But you get caught up in what you are doing. Remember that Intelligence is just one cog in the machine that makes up the Ares Federation of Species. I have Liz Thoms working around the clock to make sure she has ships ready to jump if we get a signal. Even Supreme H’uum is working his people outside of their comfort zone.”

Kate relaxed. “I know, JJ. But...”

“Don’t interrupt me, Admiral. Like I said, you are the best. But you have to remember
why
we are doing this. Who we are doing it for. Our citizens are disappearing. We have a chance to find out why, and we are going to take it. Detective Thorn was doing a great job, and now I expect you to do a better one. Am I clear?”

Kate’s shoulders sagged. “Yes.”

“Good. Is there anything else?”

“I have added some gear, with the volunteers’ permission. There are personal comm units in case they get separated, and two of them are carrying small explosives.”

“That’s good thinking. Keep me updated. Now if you will excuse me, I have an appointment due in a few minutes.”

Kate smiled. “Yes, sir. Give Doctor Black my regards.”

If JJ had been pale-skinned instead of Polynesian, Kate would have seen her blush as they saluted each other.

Two minutes after she left, Kate Williams walked back into JJ’s office. Wynn Black had not yet arrived, and JJ was applying makeup when Kate interrupted. “Admiral, I just received a message from General Addison. There has been a change of plans.”

Three

Thirty-two CONDOR-clad Marines followed Cort into the main hall of the headquarters of the Church of the Infinitive. There were thirty more surrounding the building. The church was having its annual synod and the speaker was praising his god’s vengeance upon the supporters of the Ares Federation.

On a platform that looked more like a concert stage than a pulpit, Rich Aile, a well-groomed man about Cort’s age was shouting. “As God will deliver us from the rule of those who would bring demons and false souls among us, so shall He deliver us unto His kingdom, that we may bask in his glory and live forever in his presence.”

Cort’s enhanced voice echoed through the auditorium. “I can arrange that for you, Doctor Aile.”

As confusion filled the pews, pairs of Cort’s people took station at the exits of the auditorium. The gathered crowd turned to Cort almost as one and began to scream.

“What is the meaning of this?” Aile demanded.

Cort stepped onto the stage, towering over the humans there. “My name is General Cortland Addison. And you are the leaders of the Infinitive Church. I know that you are responsible for the death of Dar Sike. In accordance with Ares Law, you are all under arrest. Your guilt has been established to the satisfaction of the military government of the federation. Your assets have been seized, as well as those of this mockery of a church, and they will be sold off. The proceeds will be divided among the victims of the bombing you orchestrate
d.”

When Aile tried to speak again, Cort increased the volume on his suit and spoke over the man. “The louder you speak, the louder I will. I can bring this building down around us. My people will be safe in their armor, and you will all die.”

As Cort spoke, he saw the church leaders closest to him were holding their ears. In some cases, blood was leaking through their fingers. Windows shattered and tiny pieces of glass accentuated his words by falling into the crowd below. The crowd quieted down enough to listen to Cort, and in a quieter voice he addressed the room. “Your children have already been removed from the building. They are safe. You are not. I am however, going to give your god a chance to save your lives.
Somewhere else in the universe.
But first, there are nine of you that I have something special in mind for. Marines, bring them to me.”

Teams of CONDORS moved among the pews. As HUDs identified church leaders, the men and women were brought to the stage. When eight of them stood beside Aile, Franz Glass was brought in. The man was battered and bruised, none the better for having enjoyed the
hospitality
of Cort’s warriors for the previous two hours. When all of the ‘special’ prisoners were in front of him, Cort spoke again.

“Doctor Ceram, will you join us please?”

Ceram walked through two doors being held by Marines. Several in the congregation screamed when they saw him. Human Isolationism was a tenet of this church, and to have a three-meter-tall insect walk into their holiest sanctuary was horrifying and blasphemous. In his lower arms, Ceram held a tray with almost a dozen large syringes. Each syringe was tipped with a needle that was more than a centimeter in diameter.

One by one, the ten prisoners were restrained by Marines. Ceram stepped from one prisoner to the next as the armored warriors lifted each human into the air. He used his upper arms first to tear the clothing from the person’s abdomen, then to insert a needle directly into their navel. After emptying the syringe, he used a laser torch to cauterize the wound before moving to the next person.

While Ceram was working, Cort spoke over the screaming recipients of H’uuman tracking devices. “The rest of you need not worry. You won’t be subjected to this. These men and women are the ones who actually planned the bombing. Take heart, because what Doctor Ceram is doing to your leaders and their lackeys may very well save all of your lives.”

“General Addison,” a Marine Lieutenant stepped into the room. “Transport is here, sir.”

“You have no choice in what is about to happen. If you cooperate, you will not be hurt. But if you resist, the next day of your life will be very painful. You have all seen what I am capable of, and not a Marine here feels any differently than I do. Don’t make us hurt you.”

Through the sensor package of another CONDOR, Cort heard a terrified woman in the back whisper, “Where are you taking us?”

“I really don’t know. If I did, I might not send you there.”

Two people tried to escape while they were being loaded onto flights, but no one needed to be hurt. Once the last of the church leaders were loaded and their flights lifted off, Cort called in the civilian police force and the press. The police took control of the building and the press gathered in the church sanctuary where Cort spoke to them from the pulpit.

“The men and women taken into custody today will be among the next humans to be abducted. I don’t know how long it will take to figure out where people are going when they disappear, but until we figure it out, or a way to stop it, I will only allow criminals to be taken. After today, they will be non-violent ones.”

A woman stepped forward. “General, why non-violent criminals? Wouldn’t it be better to send violent offenders?”

Cort recognized her as the woman
he noticed vomiting
the day of the bombing. “If we knew the abductees were all dead, I would agree with you. But we don’t know, and if they are alive, I don’t want to add to their problems by sending violent people into their midst.”

A man stepped forward. “How did you learn of the church’s guilt so quickly?”

“I can’t discuss that. However, I know the attack was in protest of our alliances with non-human life forms. I will say that both the military government and an independent civilian judicial board found them to be guilty. Both verdicts were unanimous.”

The man continued, “Follow up, sir. How do your actions today compare to those of your enemies?”

The room went silent as Cort considered his answer. Some of the reporters probably expected him to lash out, or end the press conference. Instead, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I am quite cognizant of my sins. My path to whatever hell there may be is marked by the blood of my enemies. Blood I have shed to protect my family and the citizens of the Ares Federation.
The mistake these people made was they took the law into their own hands. T
hey decided they could dictate my actions on another planet.”

When more reporters started to speak, Cort held his hand up to quiet them. “No planet in the federation is kept here by force. If Earth wants out, have a vote. If you opt to leave us, I will pull all Ares assets back and cede the planet. But from that point on, you will protect yourself. Without Ares or Addison assistance. The same is true for any federation planet. If you decide to stay, I will protect you no matter what the cost.”

Cort heard a voice in the crowd say, “So long as we pay tribute, you mean.”

Cort sighed as he looked in the direction of the voice. “That is correct. But keep in mind, I pay more in taxes than the rest of humanity combined. I personally pay more than any entire planet in the federation.”

Cort finally located  and locked his gaze on the woman who had spoken in the crowd of reporters. She had tried to move behind a colleague. “You are treating me like I am a politician, but I am not. I am a military dictator. I don’t care about your headlines or how you portray me. I don’t care about your polls. I care about protecting us all. And unless you are willing to stand next to me with a weapon in your hands, you have absolutely no say in how I do that. All that other crap is politics, and I leave politics to the people I assign to act on Earth’s behalf within my government.”

“Speaking of which, General Addison, who is taking Dar Sike’s place as Superintendent?” a H’uuman reporter clicked.

Cort smiled at the insectoid, thankful for the question. “His grandson,
my
12th great-grandson, Rand Gaines. I had hoped that Rand would not take over for many years to come, but he has always been next in line to take over.”

A man in the back of the room called out, “Is this the end of the investigation?”

“Yes. Other than imposing equal taxation, I have never interfered with religion on Earth or on any Federation planet. Moving forward, I will not interfere with any religion that does not interfere with the rights or freedoms of other Federation citizens. However, if someone attempts to restrict the rights and freedoms of others, for any reason,
including
religion, I will act. More importantly, I will protect our citizens from
all
enemies. Your sons and daughters and loved ones mean just as much to the Ares Federation as my sons George and Dalek do. I will find those who seek to do us harm, and I will kill them.”

“Your son? Is George a Federation citizen? How does this affect the H’uuman blood oath?” the H’uuman reporter clicked right on cue. It was the one staged question of the press conference, and Cort was ready for it.

“Yes, George is both a Federation citizen and my son. Yesterday afternoon, legal documents were signed and registered to establish once and for all that George Cortland Addison is both a living entity and my son. I will not answer further questions on this personal, family matter. Regarding your blood oath, your obligation is to Dalek. Your species has no more obligation to George than they do to the Pledge Mother or myself. His title among H’uumans is Pledge Brother.”

Cort did answer two more questions, but both were political in nature. He ended the press conference and went to his own waiting shuttle. Bazal was inside the shuttle waiting for him. He looked at the octopod after taking off his helmet. “Are they all guilty? I mean I know the leaders were, but what about the rest of them?”

“Everyone in the church knew of the plot. Some of them did not approve of it, but neither did they report it to the civilian authorities.”

“That’s good enough for me.” Cort turned to the shuttle pilot and said, “Get me back to the ship. I want to go home.”

Before the
Kalashnikov
activated its Jonah drive, Cort sent a message to Kimberly telling her to clear the isthmus retreat on Solitude. He wanted to be alone with his family. The ship slipped into warp and went radio silent for the trip home.

--

The day before Cort married Kim, he took a camping trip with Bane, his dire wolf. While exploring, Bane had become trapped in a cave. When Cort found the wolf, he discovered a vast system of artificial caves and tunnels. On the walls of the largest chamber in the maze was a single, continuous mural that depicted Solitude’s history. Eventually, an archaeologist deciphered the mural and learned that over a million years before, an astronomy computer predicted a quasar that would sterilize the planet. The inhabitants of the world modified the computer to help them find a way off the planet.

For reasons they had not yet determined, one being remained on the planet with the computer after the rest of the inhabitants had been evacuated. When the quasar hit, that being lost his life. At the same time, the computer became self-aware. After the archaeologists discovered the computer, Bazal was able to communicate with it and learn more of the history of the planet. Ultimately, the computer was given an avatar to be able to interact with the rest of the planet’s current inhabitants.

--

Three days after the explosion, Cort was walking through the excavation site with his family. At Kimberly’s request, the area was empty. They had even left the security team at the cave entrance. It was the first time that George or Dalek had ever seen the mural. As they walked through the site, Cort recalled his first experience in the cave. Step by step, he told the others what he saw that day, what he did, and what he felt those years before.

Cort realized that George was overwhelmed and suggested that they leave him alone in the main room of the cave. As his family began to move to another area, George said, “Will you stay with me, Father?”

“Of course, Son.” Kim and Dalek left, their wolves in tow, leaving Bane with Cort and George.

The two were silent for several minutes. George reached up and put his hand in Cort’s.