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Cispa:
By Markus Thyme:
Previous episodes are in The Master’s Hand archive.
Major Kamil watched as the flyer returned from its reconnaissance. The captain came down the ramp and saluted Kamil smartly.
“What did you find, Captain?” he asked.
“Too much, Sir. We saw many caves and hiding places from the air. Some, I think could contain an entire company. Others could easily hide a squad.”
“Too many to search then?”
“Indeed, Sir. It would take several days with the force we have here.”
“Very well, Captain. We must return to base and report to the Major and the Regent. What we do then will be their decision.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Give the orders Captain. Reload the flyers and have the men board.”
“Yes, sir. Would it do to leave a squad to keep a watch on this place?”
“I think not, Captain. We have already lost one squad to this debacle. I would not put another squad at risk now. These humans are much more dangerous that we estimated.”
“I agree, sir. I will give the orders.”
A short time later the four flyers rose into the air and headed toward the Calanian compound. Even if they were watching, they would not have seen a single human male crouched in the forest below. When they had passed, John continued his journey toward the Invaders compound. Swift as he was, it would be at least ten sunrises before he found Bruce and Randolph.
The flyers made the trip in just under two hours. Major Kamil gave orders to dismiss the men and went directly to his commander’s office. As he expected, the Regent was there with Colonel Pervez. Also present was Fatima Hamas, the local agent of the Calanian society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, commonly called Cispa. Kamil snapped a crisp salute to Prevez.
“Relax and talk freely,” said the Colonel. “What did you find?”
“We found no humans, sir. They had abandoned the cave. It was not a single cave, sir. It was a labyrinthine of tunnels and living spaces.”
“Living spaces?”
“Yes sir. We found considerable evidence of a simple, but coherent society.”
With those words,
“A society, Major, like an organized community?” she demanded.
“It would seem so, ma’am. It was difficult to resolve because they left nothing behind, no tools or utensils of any kind. Still the living spaces did seem to indicate a family based organization.”
“Ah ha,” gloated
Pervez looked sharply at the Cispa agent.
“You may stay and listen if you wish, but this is not the time or place to run your agenda. This is a military matter for now. If you interfere I will ask you to leave.”
“This discovery of organization does fit with the experience of Regent Maliki,” said Pervez. “The resistance of the humans was unexpectedly organized. It cost us eleven good Marines.”
“About those Marines, Sir,” said Major Kamil, “there was other evidence of civilized behavior. Our comrades were treated with great respect by these humans. They were laid out in the cave and covered with a cairn.”
“Then you brought them back for proper ceremonies?”
“Indeed, sir. I brought the men, but not their weapons. They had been stripped of all except their uniforms.”
“Oh, oh,” remarked the Regent. “Dare we hope they will not be able to use them?”
“We dare hope nothing of the kind,” snapped the Colonel. “You saw the weapon they used on our men. That was crafted with skill and thought. It is not a simple thing.”
“What else did you find, Major?”
“Sir, we made an air search of the area. We found no evidence of human habitation, but we did discover a large number of likely hiding places of various sizes.”
“Too many to search in a reasonable time with the force you had?” asked Pervez.
“Indeed, sir. A through search would have required several days.”
“But the humans must be there,” remarked Maliki. “They could not have disappeared in one day.”
“We air searched the area within a day’s march of the cave, sir,” said Kamil. “I’m sure they did not disappear, but they have for our purposes. We did not see even one.”
“Cannot we send a force to flush them out?” demanded Maliki.
“Would you like to lead such a force?” snapped Pervez.
The regent’s face was suddenly a study in indignation.
“Oh, I apologize, Regent Maliki,” soothed Pervez. “You see, I have already lost eleven good men. I have no wish to lose more.”
“What can we do then?” whispered Maliki.
“May I speak, Colonel,” asked
“Please do,” smiled Pervez.
“I do not wish to run and agenda,” she purred, “but what I have heard leads me to believe we should leave this place and leave these humans alone. They are not animals. They are a sentient species.”
“Abandon this planet. Is that what you suggest?” demanded Maliki.
“Indeed I do Regent. It was you who first remarked that this was a marginal operation at best. Whey should we continue now that we know these humans are sentient?”
“We also know they have slain Calanians,” growled Kamil.
“Indeed,” remarked Maliki. “And as I think of it, the flyer crash seems less and less like an accident. It is possible they slew the Prince and his company.”
“Whether they did or no, it seems we still have to make some kind of choice,” said Pervez. “We can certainly abandon this planet and take all of our citizens off. There is space for everyone on the warship that orbits above. That is one choice. We can try to flush out these humans and annihilate them.”
“If you chose that path, you had best slay me
too,” snapped
Pervez laughed outright. Then he chose to ignore her outburst.
“Another choice,” he smiled, “would be to use our battleship’s firepower to destroy all life on this planet.”
“There are many choices,” groaned Maliki.
“Indeed, but no good ones,” said Pervez. “I have just one battalion of men here. I could call down two more battalions if I had reason. But before I did that, I would need a very good reason to convince the admiral. Even with a regiment, I am not convinced we could find and slay all of the humans. The problem is, we don’t know anything about them. We don’t even know where they are or how many they are. Is that correct Major?”
“Sir, that is correct,” answered Kamil.
“Much as I enjoy disagreeing with you,
“Perhaps that is best,” agreed Maliki. “We already have more than enough slain Calanians and nothing gained.”
“for now,” said Pervez, “I think I should take the shuttle up and face the Admiral. Major Kamil, I will need you to join me along with you Regent Maliki. Would you also like to join us Madam Cispa,” he grinned. “Perhaps the admiral will allow you in.”
“I would indeed,” grated
“Very well then. Major, radio the Admiral to tell him we are coming, then join us at the shuttle.”
From their vantage point, Bruce and Randolph watched while several Invaders boarded the shuttle. Then it lifted off and knifed into the sky.
“It is an amazing thing to see,” remarked
“Indeed,” answered Bruce. “I wonder where they go.”
“Yes. It is vexing that all we can do is wait and watch.”
“Perhaps it be time for one of us to return and seek our folk.”
“We can hope we still have folk,” whispered
“I will go to see,” decided Bruce.
“Go then,” said
“I will return ere long,” said Bruce and clasped
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