“Colonel Moreto isn’t going to attack,” he said. “Not yet, at least.”
“How do you know?” Les asked.
“She’s waiting to see if X will die on his own.”
“I don’t understand how they even know about his condition,” Magnolia said.
“There’s a mole, maybe several, on the capitol tower,” Samson said. “The militia has done a sweep, but it could be anyone.”
“Imulah and many other Cazadores have been living with us since the war ended,” Michael said.
“Imulah isn’t the rat,” Magnolia said. “He knows I’d skewer him in horrible ways.”
Les stroked his jaw, thinking. “The damage is already done,” he said. “Nothing we can do now but wait.”
“Or we could do what X did,” Michael said.
Les looked up from the table. “Not sure I follow you, Commander.”
“He went after Vargas and killed him before the bastard could make a play for the throne. We could do the same thing to Carmela.”
Magnolia seemed to like the idea. “I’ll take her out.”
“No one is taking out anyone unless they make a move,” Les said. “Colonel Forge still appears to be neutral. Think what would happen if we attacked Moreto.”
“All due respect, sir,” said Michael, “but it takes only one of their cannons to kill our families on the capitol tower. If you don’t want to waste ordnance, I’m sure we can figure something else out.”
Magnolia smirked, probably thinking the same thing Michael was.
“Oh, hell no,” Les said. “You want to dive?”
They both nodded.
“I’ll take the bitch dead or alive,” Magnolia said. “Just give me the order, Cap.”
Les seemed to consider their options, giving Michael a few stolen moments to do the same. Diving onto a Cazador warship was not the sanest of ideas. Layla definitely wouldn’t approve.
But Les was right about saving their ammunition unless they were forced to fire. There had to be a better way, and diving was the best he could think of.
“Timothy, any bright ideas?” Les asked.
The AI turned, stroking his perfectly groomed holographic beard.
“What about contacting Colonel Forge to try and negotiate his support?” Timothy asked. “I’ve observed his behavior over the past few months, and he seems to be the most reasonable of the Black Order.”
“We don’t know Forge,” Magnolia said. “We can’t trust him.”
“Perhaps, though I believe it was Colonel Vargas and Colonel Moreto who threatened X all along,” Timothy said. “But I don’t believe she has full support of the fractured military.”
“I hope you’re right,” Les said.
“So X and Rhino killed the wrong officer on the Black Order,” Michael said.
Samson coughed, drawing everyone’s attention. The hefty engineer was getting weaker by the day, but he was still here, still working.
“General Rhino advised X to kill both of them, but X decided to send Colonel Moreto away to the Iron Reef, in Belize,” said the engineer. “X feared that killing her would cause more problems, and the best thing to do was send her on a mission.”
“So she made Renegade look disabled to buy time, instead of leaving for the Iron Reef?” Les said.
“That seems a logical assumption,” Timothy said.
“So why are we still talking? I say we end the bitch.” Magnolia stroked the hilt of one of her curved blades. “I’d be happy to do it free of charge.”
Les walked over to the open hatches and stared up at the glittery sky.
After seeing the captain make several knee-jerk reactions regarding the defectors, Michael was pleased to see him ponder this decision.
With each passing second, the threat of another battle became more of a reality.
The Cazadores were watching. They knew what the sky people were doing, and Carmela, like a snake, waited to strike.
“Captain,” Timothy said, “I’m detecting gunfire on the surface.”
“Where?”
Michael joined the huddle around the map.
“Here.” Timothy pointed to the second-biggest red dot on the map.
“That’s Renegade,” Michael said.
“Yes, Commander.”
“Can you get us a visual?” Les asked.
“Negative, Captain. The gunfire is limited in scope and appears to be isolated to that one ship.”
The radio buzzed, and Samson brought the transmission over the speakers.
“Captain, this is Lieutenant Sloan, do you copy?”
“Copy, Lieutenant. What’s going on down there?”
“I’m not sure, sir, but there’s some sort of battle taking place on Renegade’s weather deck.”
“Can you move some of our vessels to get a closer look?”
“Might be risky, but your call, sir.”
Les glanced over at Michael and Magnolia.
“We need to know what’s going on,” Michael said.
“Agreed,” Les said. “Lieutenant, send in your best to get a visual, and report back.”
“Copy that, sir.”
Les paced along the map as they waited.
“Sir,” Magnolia said, “if you want your best down there, you should send me and Tin.”
Les halted.
“We’ll dive in under cover of darkness,” Michael said. “They’ll never see us coming or know we’re there.”
“It’s too dangerous,” Les said. “And if this is a coup, we need to stay out of it.”
“All due respect, but if this is a coup, we need to make sure the right side wins,” Michael said. “Let Mags and me go. We won’t interfere, but we will report back to you.”
“We wait until we hear from Lieutenant Sloan,” Les said firmly.
Michael didn’t protest. He was already in hot water with the captain for their argument outside the medical ward. And Michael still felt guilt over the death of Les’s son in Jamaica.
Minutes ticked by. Two hours had already passed since they took to the sky, and the bomb’s fuse was hovering very near the flame.
White noise filled the bridge. Samson worked the radio to clear it. The doors whisked open, and Rodger returned.
“The rookies are with Sofia in compartment two,” he said. “What’d I miss?”
Les put a finger to his mouth as the transmission played over the speakers.
“Captain, this is Lieutenant Sloan again. We’ve got eyes on Renegade via Sergeant Wynn and a team…”
Static broke up the transmission.
“Come again, Lieutenant?” said Les. “I didn’t catch your last.”
“Wynn is reporting other Cazador vessels and boats sailing for Renegade,” Sloan replied, “but we’re not sure who is who.”
“You were right, this is a coup,” Les said to Michael.
“But who’s leading it?” Magnolia said.
The speakers crackled again.
“Captain, I just got another report from Wynn,” Sloan said. “They’re hearing something about a team of Barracudas that boarded Renegade, and small-arms fire on the deck.”
Rodger joined the group around the map, keeping quiet.
“General Rhino’s old team?” Magnolia said.
“I’ll be damned,” Michael said. “General Rhino is still protecting X, even in death.”
He stepped up to Les. “Sir, permission to dive and help them.”
“Me, too,” Magnolia said.
Rodger chimed in. “Me, too.”
“No,” Magnolia and Michael said in unison.
Les snorted and looked at the overhead. “All right, Commanders,” he said. “Permission to dive, but no one else.”
Michael smiled.
“And, Commanders,” Les said, “please see that the Barracudas win this fight.”