Duty, Honour, Love

Karasena waited nervously outside the door to the Chief’s office. Part of her worry was for Mark. It didn’t help that she was being stared down by a grim faced T’Arni with streaks of grey in her long blonde hair. Karasena felt as if she’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. A Terran saying she had learned from Mark.

The T’Arni’s comms bleeped she glanced at it than at Karasena. “The Chief will see you now.” She pressed a button on the console beside the door she had been leaning on.

Karasena stood and walked into the Chief’s office. The T’Arni followed her in. The Chief an older looking Human sat behind a metal desk, his office rather minimal and utilitarian. It appeared to be more military than civilian. He sat up stiffly as Karasena entered.

“If this about the Militia training I’m doing the best I can with what I got,” he said.

“I’m afraid this is a bit more serious than that.” Karasena hoped he’d not be judgmental.

“Please sit,” the Chief told her.

Karasena sat in the chair in front of the desk.

The T’Arni woman from the door walked in and leaned against the wall behind the Chief almost acting as if she was his bodyguard.

“I need to talk to you in private,” Karasena said coming straight to the point.

“Anything you have to say will be in private. Lieutenant Cloiytie is my 2iC.”

Karasena gave the older T’Arni a worried look and plunged into her problem.

“Alright I don’t know you will take it.” She winced at that it sounded too much sexual innuendo. “I don’t a want riot or hate spreaders. But I received orders to execute the crew of Orinoco.”

The Chief just blinked. “Go on?” he said not showing any emotion.

“They are illegal orders,” She said quickly. “Also I learned that the Terrans have ordered the same.” She went on to explain what she had learned.

“Kathleen Morin,” the Chief said with a nod from Cloiytie.

“You knew she was a Terran Agent and you didn’t tell me?” Karasena was shocked about that.

“That wasn’t your concern.”

“So how come she’s not been arrested?” The Chief had known Kathleen was a spy albeit one that wasn’t anymore. Kathleen had walked away from that after her revelation.

“She hasn’t done anything wrong. I really don’t care for whom she was affiliated with. She’s one hell of a good administrator the hospital needs her. I don’t need her in my lock up.”

The Chief’s attitude surprised her.

“How long have you known?” Karasena had to ask.

“Since she arrived but that not the point here it is?”

Karasena let it go he was right Kathleen wasn’t an enemy. “You are right Kathleen is on our side.”

“That will be all on that subject,” Cloiytie said. “Any action we take towards or against the Terrans will stir up some resentment but we can work around that.”

Cloiytie eyed Karasena. “T’Arni have long memories but there are those here with extremely short ones. They forgot I arrived here with the first colonists.”

Karasena stared at Cloiytie she heard the stories of the early days and the struggles they had. “You’re one of the nine hundred?”

“Yes although the first winter storms killed many. We weren’t prepared for the worst. This is and forever will be an unfinished gift world.”

“You know that for certain?”

“Why do you think there is a research station at White Mountain. Erikino is halfway between what it was originally and what gift worlds are like.”

“We seem to be going off topic here,” the Chief interrupted.

“Sorry Chief I was just trying to make a point,” Cloiytie apologised.

“We need to make the crew of the Orinoco disappear.”

Karasena instinctively reached for the sidearm strapped to her waist. “You what?” she said coldly.

“No not kill them, Just hide them, change their ID’s. I expect a few will resist.”

“What do you mean by that?” Karasena demanded.

“It’s up to you to convince Captain Stillway that this is the best option,” the Chief said.

“Once that is done we can decide how to go forward.” Karasena said unsure if Mark would do that. He’d refused to let the troublemakers be removed. “These Ulkoi that crippled the Orinoco are bound to come here at some point?” Karasena admitted.

“Then we hide and fight,” the Chief told her.

“We have to hold for eleven weeks that’s the earliest Admiral Katares can get any ships to us?”

The Chief nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll factor that into my plans.”

“You do realise we’re vulnerable until then we got no defences?” Karasena reminded the Chief.

“Yes I am aware of that and have taken that into consideration.”

Karasena wasn’t so sure. “You’re making too many assumptions?”

“It pays to be prepared even with nothing,” the Chief countered. “To tell the truth I was beginning to get bored.”

“Bored?” Karasena couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“Bored I’ve been a soldier and a merc. This was to be my retirement. But I miss the old days.”

Karasena stared at him. At the start of the war she’d pulled up records of any ex-soldiers on Erikino but she couldn’t remember seeing his name on any data she’d seen. “You aren’t on our records?”

“You won’t I was in Imperial Special Forces.”

“What!” Karasena exclaimed half-rising from her seat.

“Please settle down.” The Chief waved at her.

“Is that the real reason why you didn’t arrest Kathleen?” Suspicion bloomed but just thinking about Mark and the fate of his crew had her sitting back down. Dareia would have told her of any dishonesty.

“I no longer care about politic shit,” the Chief stated. “Just having to deal with Guy on a daily basis has cleared me of any ambitions in that area.” He actually shuddered. “I am Erikino. As you should be and after what you told me I’m glad I’m out of it.”

Cloiytie interrupted. “I told him to leave Kathleen. Her work in the hospital is an asset to the colony.”

“And me?” Karasena had to ask.

“Someone we welcome as a one of us, A citizen of Erikino. There’s more to you than even you know. We just need to find you your true heart.”

“One of you?” Karasena was confused.

“You could say that but you are a little part of Erikino. It’s the last place anyone wants to be but it is the place we need to be.”

Karasena stared at Cloiytie totally confused. “I don’t know this isn’t making sense?”

“It doesn’t have to,” Cloiytie replied. “Be assured we will get through this we will survive and grow stronger.” Cloiytie straightened. “Together we are free!”

“Together we are free!” Karasena repeated. Those words engraved into every T’Arni heart.

The Chief leaned forward. “What we do now is gather as much info and resources as we can. Hide the crew amongst the people and prepare to fight!”

Karasena left the Chief’s office confused and a little overwhelmed. She had gone there to warn the Chief about a possible Ulkoi invasion and had come away part of a greater conspiracy. Admiral Katares had given her orders to use what resources she could and it looked like she was going to do that. Ancients she was in too deep to pull out now. It was only the thought of Mark’s face that had her not running for the nearest aravi field to hide. With that thought in mind she headed back to the base. She needed a heart to heart to talk with Dareia.