Crisis Of Empire - Crown Of Empire Part 34

"It isn't over yet, though?" remarked Jessine.

The four dots were closing more rapidly.

"Not yet," he said. "But it's closer to being over than most people know. The Haiken Maru is out of the game permanently. Logistics has two moves until checkmate."

"But those two moves could change things. If Sclerida captures either Tira or me." She shiv- ered suddenly.

"Captures and keeps. From what I've seen yesterday and today, that's not easy to do." His smile was warm, suffused with pride for her.

"You're not the ornament Sclerida thinks you

are.

"He thinks all women are ornaments," said Jessine contemptuously.

"And half the boys in the world as well," added Ver. He stared at the next coded information.

"No sign of Tira yet. None of the Kona Tatsu in

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Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

Logistics cover have heard anything about her.

There was a rumor she was at Sclerida's resi- dence, but that's -"

"Absurd," said Jessine. "How would she get there and if she did get there, how could Sclerida not announce it?"

"Exactly, And there's an unsubstantiated report that Admiral Sclerida has left there him- self, which I doubt he would do if he had Tira."

He looked at the side screens and cursed,

"We're being boxed in," said Jessine.

"It's insane, doing this," said Ver, adding under his breath, "There's no point in Haiken Maru fay- ing something this foolish now."

Over their hailer came clipped instructions to hover and leave the aircar, with the a.s.surances they would not be harmed if they obeyed promptly.

"They're going to regret this," said Ver as he slowed his aircar while he looked for a clear s.p.a.ce to set down.

"Oh, don't," said Jessine, at last disheartened and weary. "Let's get it over with."

This really is for the best, darling," said Ver.

He informed the four Haiken Maru cars of the site he had selected. There's enough room for you to land, two on either side," he added through gritted teeth.

174.

"Acceptable," came the response.

"You'd better land. We'll have to hover, there's some trouble with the drive-fans or stabilizers. Something isnt right with the gyroscopes." He paused.

"We saw you were having trouble," said one of the leaders. 'Tough luck"

The four Haiken Maru aircars touched down, two on either side of Ver s aircar.

"Fortunes of war," said Ver, and turned to Jessine.

"I'm going to lower the equipment ramp. Make sure you raise your hands when you go down it"

"Can't we self-destruct?" she asked, trying to laugh but unable to hide her serious intent.

"Stand here, and I'll set the scanner to show them we're surrendering." He activated the hailer. "We'll be coming out with hands raised.

There is an electronic record now of our surren- der, here and at Kona Tatsu command." He winked at her, and added softly. "Now they can't claim any resistance or accidental injury."

"If you say so," she told him listlessly

"Don't worry, Jessine," he said seriously. "It's going to be all right."

"Oh, yes. I'll be forced to marry Admiral Sclerida or Governor Merikur and you'll be ban- ished or killed. It couldn't be better." She raised her hand once, then lowered it. "We might as well get this over with."

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Chelsea Quinn farhro

"Yes." he said.

They started toward the loading ramp, Jessine behind Ver. To her the open hatch loomed like the grave.

Then it seemed Ver tripped; at least he stum- bled a litde and reached out to one of the seats to steady himself.

There was a sudden rush. Ver turned at once and flung himself on Jessine throwing her back- ward and covering her with his body.

The air around them rocked and thrummed and all four of the Haiken Maru aircars flew to bits in a welter of spectacular flames. The disin- tegrated bits spattered against Ver's aircar's hull;

the rest was vaporized and vanished in a broad wash of chemical brilliance.

Ver propped himself on his elbows and beamed at her as he smoothed the splendid tan- gle of hair back from her face. "Short-range missiles," he said. "I installed two of them where the auxiliary drive fans usually are. Just in case."

176.

Chapter 14.

In the living room of lira's suite the floor was still unswept and the furniture in ruins, but between Cousin Helga and Tira, Tira's bedroom was now reasonably neat. The bed was made and Cousin Helga was setting about the tedious task of finding out how much of Tira's wardrobe was still useable.

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Chelsea Quinn Varhro

Chaney had elected to stay in the rubble of the living room and repair the communications panel. If he were lucky, his AID would be able to ferret out some information on the overall situ- ation. "But I haven't been able to break into Naval Logistics records," he admitted to Tira.

"Maybe they've dumped all the information,"