Stand or Fall (The Omega War Book 4) Read online

  * * * * *

  Chapter Twelve

  Peacemaker Guild Headquarters

  Kleve

  Like all the guilds in the Galactic Union, the members of the Peacemaker Guild answered to a council. While most of the guilds’ councils formed and met formally multiple times per Earth year, the Peacemaker Guild rarely met more than twice in a given year. Spread to the corners of the galaxy, Peacemakers operated nearly independently. The official business of the guild was simple enough to conduct, and Rsach, like the guild masters before him, felt no need to be involved in the daily operations of his charges. Council meetings, as such, often felt more like reunions of old friends. Careful recollections of the year’s activities replaced brisk, sharp reports that were more about deficiencies and issues than about the “good news” of a job well done.

  When the call for an emergency council meeting came, Hak-Chet realized the good news and easy manner of previous council meetings would be absent. The galactic situation didn’t allow for much celebration, and there were rumblings of war between guilds and species. They’d known Peepo’s gambit against humanity would have unforeseen consequences, but Hak-Chet believed no one on the council had expected things to go so wrong in such a short time. Recent events indicated several cracks had appeared in the Peacemaker Guild’s armor. Whether opportunistic Peacemakers sought something more than the simple life of the guild, or they’d turned to greed or devotion to their species, the once palpable air of security provided by the Peacemakers had vanished with the Mercenary Guild’s machinations. The galaxy was far from peaceful. By all appearances, the Dryod Four leak opened by Lieutenant Pt-Dah was far worse than they imagined, and there were other Peacemakers at risk of turning.

  Hak-Chet entered the circular chamber and nodded to the others collected in small groups. There were tables radiating in concentric circles to the walls, and enough chairs for more than sixty species’ representatives when the full council met. Given only a dozen or so species were present, Hak-Chet realized Rsach had convened the High Council which signaled matters were even worse than he had thought. When Rsach felt he could not trust the bulk of the guild with the intelligence he possessed, dark things were on the horizon.

  Guild Master Rsach entered the chamber, and the other representatives took their places. Hak-Chet, as the Selector, sat diametrically opposite Rsach. Rsach rapped gently on the table, then leaned forward and turned his head and upper torso to both sides of the room in ceremonial greeting. There was a marked difference in the Jeha’s posture. His mid-section sagged forward suggesting either age or injury. Hak-Chet thought his old friend looked exhausted.

  “Thank you for coming on such short notice,” Rsach said. “I imagine many of you are wondering why I’ve called the High Council together and not convened the entire Peacemaker Council. I assure you I have my reasons, which I will explain during this meeting. Before I do, is there any new business we need to address?”

  Hak-Chet felt Rsach’s eyes on his before his friend finished speaking. He stood and bowed his head to Rsach. “Guild Master Rsach and Honored Council, intelligence from Luna suggests the Mercenary Guild has begun collecting the mercenary leaders of Earth and impounding their vehicles, equipment, and personnel. They’ve essentially established martial law over most of the Earth and will not allow any transports to enter or leave the system without being boarded and thoroughly searched. These actions, while extreme, were expected. What was not expected was the news that the Mercenary Guild is suspected of planning an attack on the Peacemaker Consulate on Luna.”

  There were gasps in the room, which Rsach did not stifle. Hak-Chet waited until all eyes were on him and continued to speak. “We believe this attack will be launched within the next 72 Earth hours and is intended to devalue the Peacemakers in full view of humanity.”

  “We must stop them!” the Oogar representative to the council, Grraavva, rumbled. He waved his purple-furred arms violently. “They want war.”

  “Stop them with what?” the Flatar representative chirped. Milaxxis was one of the more experienced Peacemakers in the galaxy. “The Mercenary Guild has far more equipment, far more training, and far more resources than we do. If they really want to attack us, nothing will stop them.”

  Rsach tapped on the table, and all eyes turned to him. “I am inclined to agree with Milaxxis, and therefore, I have instructed the guild to do nothing. Our personnel on Luna have been stealthily evacuated by dependable Peacemaker deputies.”

  There was a quiet rumble of conversation around the table. From what Hak-Chet could hear, most everyone agreed with the evacuation. Only the Veetanho representative, Th’naal, and the MinSha representative Wednayl remained quiet and still in their seats.

  Time for phase two.

  Hak-Chet raised his hand and continued. “We believe the attack will come from a Veetanho special operations group. They jumped into the Earth sector ten days ago and have remained at a LaGrange point between the Earth and its sun under the guise of resupply. Their ship started moving toward Earth at high speed two days ago. Their course will take them conveniently near Luna. An attack is imminent. Representative Th’naal? Do you care to comment?”

  Th’naal sighed and leaned forward. She placed her elbows on the table and covered her face with her paws. “I was aware of the team’s transit, but I was told their mission was security and reconnaissance in support of our consulate on Luna. I don’t know whom to trust among my own people. There are many who believe Peepo’s crusade is the most important moment in our history. For the record, I am not one of those. A Tameera, the litter mate of Qamm of the Wandering Death, commands the team. She hates humanity and Peacemaker Francis. I hadn’t put those factors together until now. I have failed you, Guild Master. If you ask, I will gladly resign.”

  Hak-Chet nodded at Rsach, and the guild master spoke. “Your loyalties are not under examination, Th’naal. What is clear, especially to those species represented here, is that we are in danger of attack from within. To that end, Representative Wednayl, please report.”

  As Hak-Chet sat, the MinSha rose on her rear legs and stood in her place. She bowed her head to Reach and spoke slowly. “Guild Master, as you wished, I have cleared the Luna Consulate of all personnel, save for four volunteers. They will attempt to escape in the opening moments of any attack. We believe our early warning system will give them ample chances to escape. The elSha automated defense systems we installed on Luna in the last six weeks are as advanced as any ever deployed. They will hold off the mercenary threat long enough for our volunteers to flee.”

  Another rumble of approving conversation went around the room. Th’naal sat forward and spoke. “The MinSha have never directly supported the Peacemaker Guild in such a way. Why now?”

  Wednayl spoke slowly, her compound eyes twinkling in the lights of the room. “Some of our queens have come to believe humanity may not be the problem once thought.”

  “But your queens are also supporting Lieutenant General Chinayl and her clutch-sister who is bombing Human civilizations from orbit with nuclear weapons!” Th’naal growled. “You can’t have it both ways.”

  “What you say is fair, Th’naal, but our hive grows increasingly divided every day. These actions will lead us to war with ourselves over the Humans. Some of our queens, from both sides, would like to stabilize this situation by helping the Peacemaker Guild defend itself against vastly more capable mercenaries, and we are prepared to do that.”

  Grraavva rumbled again. “And we cannot confirm Drehnayl’s mercenary forces are responsible for the nuclear detonations. There have been reports of several similar events from the periphery of the galaxy. One fleet is not capable of such action, nor do the timelines match up. The detonations on New Persia may—I say may—have been coincidental.”

  “We cannot elaborate or speculate on those events,” Rsach said. He looked around the room slowly to make sure everyone heard his words. Hak-Chet nodded solemnly. Rsach had several theories about the cause o
f those attacks, but he couldn’t share any of them, not even with the High Council. “What we can do right now is prepare for war. We are outgunned and out-resourced. I believe the time has come to gather our forces. With Peacemaker Francis in pursuit of the MinSha fleet and our defenses ready to stifle the imminent attack on Luna, we have a diversion large enough to allow us to consolidate our combat forces, including all available Enforcers.”

  “Where?” Th’naal asked. “If asked, I will collect the Veetanho Peacemakers and get them there myself. Our leaders and General Peepo be damned.”

  “For once,” Grraavva said slowly, “my Veetanho counterpart and I are in complete agreement. I will drag my brothers and sisters there, if necessary.”

  Wednayl laughed. The rising tension in the room faded palpably. “And fortunately, our leadership has ceded an entire planet to our effort.”

  Rsach nodded, his centipedal body contorting with the effort. “That’s correct. I know you will corral your sisters, Th’naal, and it is a good thing we are all in agreement. Now more than ever, our alliances must be stable and sure. Your question about the MinSha and the Humans comes at the proper time, Th’naal. In times like these, we must seek out new allies and old friends. We must work together and prepare our forces for war. Nothing must be off the table. Our differences can no longer be division.

  “From here, we will alert all Peacemaker forces and commence consolidation of personnel at our remote barracks throughout the galaxy. We will cancel all leaves and non-essential missions until future notice. Once barracks commanders have collected their forces, they will determine the number of personnel needed to maintain the local level of security and send all remaining personnel to our forward rendezvous point. We have decided that Kleve will not be our base of operations. Through agreements with our MinSha representative, we will consolidate on Weqq.”

  There was a sudden silence in the room. Milaxxis broke it with a whisper. “We need the TriRusk more than ever.”

  Rsach nodded solemnly, and his body rippled in something akin to excitement. “We need more than the TriRusk, and we’re going to get it very shortly.”

  * * *

  Karma IV

  Central Detention Facility

  His first day in prison went without incident and almost lulled Rains into a false sense of security. That lull ended when the Lumari guards in the main security ward trashed his cell looking for contraband and slammed his face into the maxicrete walls like he was a play toy. No sooner had they finished when Warden Calx entered the cell. She was much shorter than he, but the Veetanho moved with a deadly grace and sense of purpose that froze him in place. Her eyes blazed as she looked over him, making Rains wonder if she didn’t know what the plan was or if everyone involved in the mission was just a better actor.

  “Let me be clear about this, Mister Rains,” she said in a low, growling voice. “I do not like this charade of a plan so make damned sure you get what you want fast.”

  Rains nodded. “Is there someone in the prison who may have information? A lead I can engage?”

  Calx grabbed the scruffy hair on his chin and yanked his eyes down to hers. “We’ve taken care of that. You’ll be in the same section as a Human named Perez. His background is of interest.”

  “Can I see his file?”

  Calx laughed. “Of course not, Rains. You are a prisoner under my supervision. You will have to trust I’ve done what I can. Perez and your target have a history, but he’s never spoken about it. Engage him and get your information. I want you out of this prison in 48 hours.”

  I don’t want to stay here another four. Rains nodded. “When will I have a chance to engage him?”

  “At the gymnasium in half an hour.” Calx grinned up at him. When she spoke again, her voice was loud enough to carry outside the cell. “In the meantime, Mister Rains, forget any ideas of mercy. You are a Human, and I am fresh out of mercy. Put your cell back together. You have twenty-five minutes to pass inspection.”

  Calx spun on her heel and left him standing in the center of his cell with a sudden sweat on his brow. The Lumari bastards kicked his linens, mattress, and hygiene items into his cell and slammed the door shut. Rains sighed and looked at the mess. With a little effort, he was ready for inspection five minutes before the cell door opened. One of the Lumari who’d trashed his cell looked in and winked at Rains.

  “Six zero eight passed inspection,” the Lumari yelled over his shoulder. “Stand outside your cell for roll call.”

  Rains did as the guard told him and shuffled outside his cell door. A quick glance left and right showed him how to present himself. He stood at a loose approximation of parade rest in front of the door, his feet shoulder width apart, and his hands clasped behind his back. With his head and eyes facing forward, Rains couldn’t see many of his fellow prisoners, but those he could see were Human, which didn’t make sense. Karma was a planet familiar to Human mercenaries as a place to find contracts or sign onto existing companies. The large number of incarcerated Humans suggested they were absolute losers and the scourge of society…or something else was going on.

  Guards walked through the prison, carrying slates that beeped as they passed each prisoner. The guard on his level was Rehnah, and she pranced down the walkway, her compound eyes blazing at him. Her slate beeped as she passed, and she said nothing. Rains felt like the walls were pressing in on him from all sides. He closed his eyes and performed a quick Peacemaker breathing routine to calm his anxiety and clear his mind, so when the guards called for the prisoners to go to physical training, Rains was ready.

  They moved down half a dozen levels to an indoor gymnasium the size of a professional football stadium on Earth. On screens mounted around the floor, Rains found his “section” consisted of inmates 601-700. The lower numbered sections had less than 100 inmates each; most were less than twenty percent filled. The Human section, though, started at 500 and went past 2,200 from what Rains could see.

  Something is very wrong here.

  Physical training was a welcome diversion, and Rains jumped into the warmup drills and calisthenics, preparing his mind as well as his body. Rains glanced around and helplessly realized that any of the other 99 men in his section could be Perez. The older man with salt and pepper hair on his right could be him, as could the defensive lineman-sized man directly to his left. As he did push-ups and sit ups, he thought about the endless morning drills during the first six weeks of Peacemaker U. In the beginning, Rains showed up for morning drills in a bad mood until he realized those drills weren’t meant to punish them, merely get them ready for the day’s training. Once he learned that, he relished the ritual and adopted it as part of his lifestyle. Moreover, doing the drills felt good. By the time they finished, Rains had worked up his first good sweat in weeks.

  The large man to his left tapped him on the shoulder. Rains turned and looked up. The Samoan was six foot seven and dwarfed Rains entirely. “You play football?”

  “You mean soccer? Or real American football?”

  The Samoan grinned. “Why not Australian Rules? Kill the guy with the ball, right?”

  “I never got that shit. Rugby, either.” Rains chuckled. “Yeah, I’ll play.”

  “Nah, they won’t let us really play. We throw the ball around and run plays without tackling. Like spring practices and shit.”

  The familiarity of it took Rains back to high school. “Yeah, man. I’m in. Jackson Rains.”

  Rains stuck out his hand, and the Samoan shook it. “Just call me Andy.”

  “Good to meet you, Andy.”

  “Likewise. You play linebacker, right? You got the build for it.” Andy turned and called over his shoulder. “Perez! Got us a new linebacker.”

  Rains followed Andy’s gaze and saw Perez. He was tall and thin and looked like a wide receiver. Rains hadn’t played football in eight years, but he could tell Perez wasn’t the real deal. One decent hit, and the guy wouldn’t walk again. The look in Perez’s eyes was a little off kilter,
if not purely crazy. The lanky man jogged over and stuck out his right hand. On his forearm was a tattoo from Death On Tracks—Tara Mason’s old unit.

  Bingo.

  “Good to meet you. What’s your name?”

  “Rains.”

  Perez’s smiled faltered slightly. “Heard another guy arrived last night. Fiftieth Human male this week. Think they’re up to something ‘round here.”

  “Like they’re working with the Mercenary Guild to take us out.” Andy said. “You a merc, Rains?”

  “Nah. Flight crew. I was with Intergalactic Haulers but went home on leave. Came back and...” he paused and shrugged. “Came back and found I ain’t got a job or a company anymore.”

  Andy winced. “Yeah, that was some bad shit.”

  Perez didn’t say anything for a moment. “Snowman and his team disappeared. You lookin’ for ‘em?”

  Why not just come right out and say it, buddy?

  “Nah. I went to the office here. You know, gonna get my last check? That’s where the guards grabbed me. Said I didn’t have an escort.” Rains acted like he was stretching his shoulders by holding one arm across his chest. “Sounds like bullshit to me.”

  Perez nodded. “New rules around Karma. Humans must be escorted everywhere. A little violation, and you’re in here with the rest of us. Fuckin’ bullshit is what it is. It’s like they’re lookin’ for something.”

  “Or they wanna just round us up and kill us off,” Andy added.

  Rains shook his head to avoid arguing with the premise. Being on the side of the Peacemakers, in this case, would turn his new friends away. “I don’t know, man. I just wanna find my ride and get back to making credits.”

  Andy got up and walked away. “You guys coming?”

  “Be right there,” Perez said. “Gonna warm up with some weight, bro.”

  “Better hurry. Gonna pick teams soon as the soccer assholes move off the field.”