The Broken Peace

The transport began its final approach at the airdrome on the outskirts of Gelenion. Marquette and Cazalas rechecked their sidearms, each looking uncertainly at the other. Around them, the twenty marines conducted the final checks of their equipment. Marquette noticed there were seventeen men and three women among their number. He’d counted them three times since they left the Queen Berenice. “You should try to relax,” he heard Cazalas say.

“Easy for you to say. How many times have you been on an armed landing party?”

“Four. It doesn’t get any easier.”

“Then how are you so calm?”

“Who said that I was? I’ve learned to hide my fear. That’s all.”

“Yeah, well, we don’t get many hostile landings on a scout ship.”

“That’s still dangerous, though.” The ship suddenly shook violently. Marquette took hold of the handhold above his head. “Don’t worry; it’s just turbulence,” Cazalas said.

“Yeah, no worries here.”

Cazalas nodded in agreement. “You should have told me earlier you were the chancellor’s son,” he said. Cazalas took a flask from his inside pocket and took a small pull from it. He offered it to Marquette, who gratefully accepted.

“It’s not something I go around spreading. I love my mother but want to make a name for myself, not ride on her coattails.”

“I respect that.”

“Attention, all personnel, we will begin our landing in thirty seconds,” announced the pilot.

“Sergeant Kreb,” Cazalas began, “as soon as that ramp drops, I want the landing site secured. No surprises.”

“Yes, sir,” he said.

Turning the ship, the pilot began the final approach. The landing rockets began to fire as the craft slowed for landing. They landed with a thud, sending a shock through the ship. At almost the same time, the ramp dropped faster than Marquette believed possible. The marines stormed out of the transport, weapons at the ready. They began to make a perimeter around the landing zone.

Marquette took a deep breath and started to move toward the ramp. Cazalas grabbed him by the arm. “Not yet. Let them give the all clear.” Minutes passed before the comm came to life. “All clear. Follow behind me just in case.”

Sergeant Kreb met them at the bottom of the ramp. “Sir, Governor Blake awaits you. We checked them, and none are armed.”

“Good work. Radio the second transport and tell them to bring in our transportation.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, I guess this means you are the ambassador now,” Cazalas said.

“Let’s go act friendly.”

They approached the six people standing next to a couple of ground vehicles. The group had a look of shock on their faces as two marines, assault rifles at the ready, stood near, watching them. “Governor Blake, I am Capt... Ambassador Marquette. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

“Pleasure?” he said, wiping the sweat from his dark skin. “You talk to me about pleasure while putting a gun in my face?”

“Forgive the precaution, Governor, but with all that has transpired in the last several days, I’m sure you can understand.”

“Yeah, sure, Ambassador. I’ve arranged transportation to-”

“If you please, we have our own transportation. I see it’s landing now.” The second transport sat down several feet from the first transport. Two light armored ground transports and a passenger car emerged from the ship’s rear. “Captain Cazalas, please have your troops board as soon as possible. Governor, I trust the meeting arrangements are ready, and there is a place we can talk in private.”

“Uhm, yes, yes, we are ready.”

“Good, then we shall follow in your lead.”

Marquette turned to begin walking to his transport, Cazalas followed him. “That was impressive,” Cazalas said.

“It comes from listening to my mother. I’m glad he couldn’t hear how fast my heart was beating. Another pull from the flask will be in order when we get in the car.”

“Agreed. We’ll let the governor and his people lead. You and I will ride in the car between the armored transports. It’s not a long ride so we can relax a bit.”

“Who’s worried?”