Outliers of Tirano

  *

  When I entered the Council Chamber, Siniastra, Rohfek, and Lydmila waited along with a bald man in Armada duty whites. "We've been waiting. Take a seat," Siniastra said to me. "Admiral Motoh has a report."

  Admiral Motoh raised a shaking hand to his mouth and coughed. He lowered his hand. "I regret that I must report the death of Admiral Kiptani. The air shuttle he was piloting to Brehon exploded."

  He paused, and Lydmila seized the moment to speak. "Was it sabotage?" she demanded.

  Motoh rocked on his heels. "There were no reports of mechanical difficulties prior to the explosion. We have dispatched a team to investigate. Unfortunately, the wreckage is in a rugged, isolated section of Brehon Gorge. It'll take time to get our personnel inserted into the crash zone."

  Lydmila glared at me, and I almost mouthed her next words with her as she spoke. "The traitor has struck again."

  "It would appear so," Rohfek said. He pinched his lower lip with his forefinger and thumb. "But why?"

  Siniastra spoke. "It's obvious. Because of our increased security, the traitor must be unable to contact Tamok. The traitor wants to confuse us, cause us to delay our planned strike." She looked at Motoh. "Is the squadron in staging position, ready to commence the strike on my command?"

  Motoh swallowed and his Adam's apple bobbed. "Yes, your Highness."

  Siniastra pulled on her ear lobe. "I will take no further chance that anything said in this room will be leaked to Tamok. Commandant, summon a Vhirko squad. As soon as they arrive, order a pair to accompany each of us to my Command Cruiser. We will transport to ComBase 4 so that we can remain in constant contact with the squadron."

  Sini rotated her head to make eye contact with Motoh, Lydmila, Rohfek, and finally me. "No one in this room will be permitted to speak or otherwise have contact with anyone until after the squadron has completed the strike."

  A vicious smile crossed Lydmila's face. "It will be so, your Highness."

  Lydmila raised her wrist comlink and whispered into it. Almost instantaneously, the chamber door opened and five pairs of Vhirko surged in. Lydmila strode to where the Vhirko stood and issued their orders prior to pointing to assign each pair of Vhirko.

  Lydmila cast a vicious smile at me. "Corporals Svetlena and Oksana will accompany Master Kuinsi." I'd been biting his lip and realized I must look worried and guilty and to them. My eyes darted to Rohfek. Rohfek folded his notepad and nodded with a smile at the two Vhirko assigned to him.

  Rohfek seemed undisturbed, almost confident. A horrible thought entered my mind. What if Rohfek and Petrella had anticipated Sini's plan and worked out a counter trap? I wished Admiral Kiptani were present to provide his counsel.